The ongoing political debate over alleged voter manipulation has escalated, with Karnataka’s Chief Election Officer (CEO) firmly denying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s accusations of “vote chori” (voter theft). The opposition leader had recently alleged a large-scale voter deletion scam across India, citing Aland in Karnataka as a key example. However, the election authority clarified that the claims were misleading and based on incorrect interpretations of official processes.
According to the statement from the Karnataka CEO, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in Aland received 6,018 Form 7 applications in December 2022. These were filed online using platforms such as NVSP, VHA, and GARUDA. Given the unusually high volume of deletion requests, the authenticity of each application was carefully scrutinized.
“Out of the 6,018 applications, only 24 were genuine, while 5,994 were found to be false or incorrect. Accordingly, the 24 valid applications were approved, and the rest were rejected, ensuring no wrongful deletions occurred,” the official statement read.
FIR filed over fake voter deletion attempts
The Karnataka CEO further confirmed that the ERO had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Aland Police Station in Kalaburagi district in February 2023 after discovering the fraudulent applications. Following directions from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the case was transferred to the Superintendent of Police, Kalaburagi, in September 2023 for further investigation.
The clarification aimed to reinforce the credibility of the electoral process while addressing Rahul Gandhi’s charges of organized voter manipulation.
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ allegations
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has repeatedly raised concerns about what he describes as a “vote chori” conspiracy targeting millions of voters nationwide. On Thursday, Gandhi accused the ECI of overlooking a massive voter deletion scam. He referenced the Aland constituency, claiming that more than 6,018 voters may have been wrongfully removed during the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections.
“We don’t know the exact number of deleted votes in Aland. It is much higher than 6,018, but someone got caught by coincidence,” Gandhi alleged. He also cited the case of a woman named Godabai, who reportedly had no knowledge that a login in her name was used to file deletion requests for 12 voters.
According to Gandhi, such cases were not isolated but part of a broader attempt to target polling booths where Congress had strong voter support. He further warned of revealing a “hydrogen bomb” of evidence in the coming weeks if the Election Commission failed to respond within a week.
Election Commission dismisses allegations
The Election Commission of India strongly refuted Gandhi’s claims, labeling them “incorrect and baseless.” In its official response, the poll body emphasized that no member of the public could delete votes online, as the system does not permit such unauthorized actions.
“Allegations made by Shri Rahul Gandhi are incorrect and baseless. No deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Shri Rahul Gandhi,” the Commission stated.
The ECI reiterated that voter data management follows strict verification procedures, and any fraudulent attempts are flagged and investigated, as demonstrated in the Aland case.
Political fallout of ‘vote chori’ narrative
The clash between Rahul Gandhi and the Election Commission has amplified the political heat ahead of upcoming elections. While Gandhi positions himself as a whistleblower exposing systemic voter fraud, the election authorities and the ruling establishment have sought to downplay his accusations, framing them as misinformation.
For Congress, the “vote chori” narrative resonates with its long-standing charge that democratic institutions are being undermined. For the BJP and its allies, however, the allegations represent a political strategy aimed at discrediting the legitimacy of electoral victories.
Observers note that the Aland case, now under police investigation, will be crucial in determining whether Gandhi’s charges gain further traction or fizzle out as another instance of political rhetoric.
Broader implications for voter trust
Beyond party politics, the controversy underscores a larger issue—public trust in India’s electoral system. Any suspicion of “vote chori” or large-scale deletions risks eroding voter confidence, especially in constituencies where margins of victory are narrow.
Election authorities have defended the robustness of India’s system, pointing out that the combination of physical verification, technological checks, and FIRs against fraudsters ensures integrity. Still, Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, amplified across political debates and media, have kept the spotlight on the challenges of maintaining transparency.
The Karnataka CEO’s firm rejection of Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” claims, along with evidence that fraudulent deletion applications were not accepted, highlights the complexities of balancing political rhetoric with factual electoral procedures. While Gandhi has promised further revelations, the Election Commission maintains that India’s voting system is secure and well-guarded against manipulation.
Whether this controversy evolves into a larger political storm or fades as another war of words will depend largely on the outcomes of ongoing investigations and the narratives both sides push ahead of the next election cycle.
