Rahul Gandhi News / Rahul's presentation claims voter deletion; those whose names were deleted were called on stage

Rahul Gandhi News: In a bold escalation of his claims against India's electoral system, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, held his second press conference on Thursday to address what he termed as "vote theft." This follows his initial media interaction on August 7, where he first raised concerns about irregularities in voter lists. During the 31-minute presentation, Gandhi presented what he described as concrete evidence of deliberate tampering, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of targeting Congress supporters by removing their names from electoral rolls.

Gandhi brought along affected voters from Karnataka to underscore his points, emphasizing that similar manipulations are occurring in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. He directly targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that Kumar is shielding those responsible for undermining Indian democracy. "The CEC is protecting vote thieves," Gandhi asserted, claiming that the evidence is irrefutable and leaves no room for ambiguity.

Spotlight on Karnataka's Aland Constituency: A Case of Attempted Mass Deletion

Central to Gandhi's presentation was an example from Karnataka's Aland assembly constituency. He alleged that in the 2023 elections, an attempt was made to delete 6,018 voter names, and the actual number could be higher. The issue came to light by chance when a booth-level officer noticed her uncle's name had been removed. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the deletion appeared to have been initiated by a neighbor—who denied any involvement. Neither the affected voter nor the supposed initiator knew about the action, leading Gandhi to conclude that an external force had hijacked the system.

To illustrate, Gandhi screened a video of 63-year-old Godabai, who claimed her voter ID was deleted without her knowledge. According to Gandhi, a fake login was created in her name to remove the names of 12 other voters. He further revealed that mobile numbers from other states were used to facilitate these deletions, displaying the numbers during his presentation along with the names of affected neighbors.

Demands for Transparency and Accusations Against the CEC

Gandhi highlighted the Karnataka CID's efforts, noting that the agency had sent 18 reminder letters to the ECI over 18 months, seeking basic details to trace the culprits. These included the destination IP addresses from which deletion forms were submitted, device destination ports, and crucially, OTP trails—since OTP verification is required for such applications. Despite repeated requests, the ECI has not provided this information, which Gandhi argued would reveal the operation's origin. "Why is this being withheld? Because it will lead us straight to the source," he said.

Reiterating his stance from the August 7 presser in Delhi, where he accused the ECI of colluding with the BJP to steal elections, Gandhi warned that India's democracy has been "hijacked." He described his revelations as building toward a "hydrogen bomb" of evidence, promising more disclosures soon. "I'm laying the foundation with black-and-white proof," he stated, adding that centralized operations, possibly involving call centers, are behind both voter additions and deletions across states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Bihar.

Responses to Media Queries: Focus on Truth and Institutional Accountability

Fielding questions from journalists, Gandhi clarified his role: "My job is to present the truth to you. It's up to the legal institutions to act." When asked about potential court action if the ECI fails to respond within a week, he emphasized that he is merely providing evidence, not enforcing justice. He urged young Indians to demand accountability, stating that the Constitution's guardians must step up.

In response to a query from PTI about the lack of ECI action on previous revelations, such as those from Mahadevapura, Gandhi reiterated that his aim is transparency. "We've shown additions, now deletions—the structure, the system, the addresses. It's the same pattern everywhere." He advised CEC Kumar to fulfill his duties by responding to the Karnataka CID promptly, warning that failure to do so would implicate him in the "murder of India's Constitution."

A Defense of Democratic Integrity

Throughout the conference, Gandhi positioned himself as a defender of democratic processes, vowing not to make unsubstantiated claims. "I love my country, its Constitution, and its democratic framework. Everything I say here is 100% based on verifiable evidence," he affirmed. He accused the ECI of protecting those intent on destroying democracy, calling for urgent reforms to safeguard electoral integrity.

As Gandhi's allegations gain traction, they spotlight ongoing debates about voter list transparency and the impartiality of electoral bodies. With calls for investigations mounting, the coming weeks could see heightened scrutiny on the ECI's operations, potentially reshaping public trust in India's democratic machinery.