In a forceful press conference in New Delhi on September 18, 2025, Congress’s Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, levelled serious allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Rahul Gandhi claimed that in key states—Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh—officials are systematically deleting voter names, particularly those of Congress supporters and marginalised groups, ahead of elections.
Gandhi demanded the ECI provide detailed proof within a week—such as IP addresses, device logs, OTP trails and list of deletions. He asserted that centralised, software-driven processes are driving these deletions, and that most of the affected booths fall within Congress strongholds. For instance, in the Aland Assembly Constituency of Karnataka, he alleged that authorities deleted 6,018 votes, including that of a voter’s relative. Further checks, he said, showed the deletion was carried out by a party unrelated to the voter.
The ECI responded sharply, calling Rahul Gandhi claims “incorrect and baseless,” emphasising that vote deletion cannot happen online by ordinary citizens and that any deletion process involves due hearing for affected individuals. The Election Commission also pointed to a 2023 incident in Aland, when someone tried unsuccessfully to delete votes and police later registered an FIR.
The allegation has triggered strong reactions. Opposition parties have backed Gandhi’s demand for transparency, while the ruling side has dismissed the claims as politically motivated. The debate now turns on whether the ECI will make internal data public and whether judicial or independent investigation will follow.
