By News Karnataka
Copyright newskarnataka
New Delhi: Congress leaders, including Party President Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, have intensified their criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the poll body is shielding individuals involved in systematic voter deletion in Karnataka’s Aland constituency.
Kharge highlights alleged ECI inaction
Kharge posted on X, praising Rahul Gandhi for “thoroughly exposing mass vote deletion” in Aland. He noted that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the case had written 18 letters over 18 months seeking critical information from the ECI, but the poll body reportedly did not respond.
Kharge raised pointed questions:
“Who is the ECI shielding? Is BJP hollowing out the very institutions meant to protect our democracy? Can we afford a democracy where the electoral system is being dismantled by a Vote Chori Factory?”
These remarks follow Congress’ persistent claims that voters from marginalised communities, including Dalits, OBCs, adivasis, and minorities, have been systematically targeted for deletion, particularly those inclined to vote for opposition parties.
Gehlot cites specific voter deletion incidents
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot highlighted individual cases, including that of a voter named Godabai, whose name along with 12 others was deleted via a fake login. Gehlot emphasised that the mobile numbers used for such deletions were from states other than Karnataka, pointing to a coordinated and cross-regional effort.
“A woman whose name is Godabai had her name deleted along with 12 others after a fake login was created. These numbers are not from Karnataka. These numbers are from different states,” Gehlot said.
Rahul Gandhi claims insider support
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi alleged that he was receiving help from insiders within the ECI to uncover vote fraud. He asserted:
“We have started getting help from inside the Election Commission. This was not happening before, but now we are getting information from inside the Election Commission, and this is not going to stop. India’s people will not accept this. Once the youth come to know that vote chori is happening, their power will come.”
He accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of “protecting vote chors” and claimed that online deletions and additions of fake voters had been conducted systematically across India.
“Different communities, mainly who are voting for the opposition, Dalits, OBCs, adivasis, minorities are specifically targeted who vote for the Opposition… now we found 100 per cent proof of it,” he said.
Election Commission dismisses allegations
Responding to these claims, the ECI rejected all allegations as “incorrect and baseless.” The commission emphasised that:
No deletion of voter names can be done online by members of the public.
Any deletion requires giving the affected person an opportunity to be heard.
“Allegations made by Rahul Gandhi are incorrect and baseless. No deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Rahul Gandhi,” the ECI stated.
The row has sparked renewed political debate over electoral integrity and the role of institutions in safeguarding voter rights, with Congress insisting on further investigations and transparency.
