Rahul Gandhi alleges systematic voter theft in Aland
Rahul Gandhi alleged that votes were deliberately deleted in Congress’s stronghold, claiming it was a targeted, planned action aimed at weakening the party’s electoral base.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (September 18, 2025) launched a blistering attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of shielding those who, in his words, are “destroying” Indian democracy. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Gandhi alleged that large-scale manipulation of electoral rolls was taking place in Karnataka and beyond, systematically disenfranchising vulnerable communities.
At the centre of his charge was the Aland Assembly constituency in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka. Mr. Gandhi claimed that as many as 6,018 votes were deliberately targeted for deletion using centralised software and phones operated from outside the state. “Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities are being systematically disenfranchised,” he said, stressing that this was not a clerical error but a deliberate, well-coordinated effort.
The Hindu recently reported that the Karnataka CID has been investigating allegations of a systematic attempt to remove nearly 5,994 voters from the electoral rolls in Aland ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Investigators found that forged Form 7 applications—documents meant to request the deletion of names—were submitted in bulk. The CID probe appeared to confirm suspicions that voters from certain communities had been selectively targeted.
“This is not an accident. This is a design,” Mr. Gandhi told the media, arguing that the manipulation of voter lists was aimed squarely at weakening the Congress in its stronghold areas. He accused the Election Commission of turning a blind eye to mounting evidence and failing to act decisively. “He is protecting those who are dismantling the very foundation of free and fair elections.”
This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi has raised alarm bells about what he calls “vote chori” (vote theft). Just last month, he cited data from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to claim that over one lakh votes were “stolen” in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment alone. According to him, electronic manipulation and back-end tampering of voter data played a major role in this alleged fraud. “Vote chori is an atom bomb on our democracy,” Gandhi declared then, repeating the phrase on Thursday to underline the gravity of the issue.
The Congress leader’s remarks tap into growing concerns about the integrity of India’s electoral processes. For decades, India has prided itself on running elections that are vast, complex, and largely trusted by its people. But in recent years, opposition parties have increasingly voiced worries over the misuse of electoral machinery, voter list tampering, and the lack of transparency in the functioning of the Election Commission.
Gandhi’s comments also highlight the emotional weight of disenfranchisement for communities that already feel politically marginalised. “When Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities see their names struck off the rolls, it tells them that their voice, their vote, does not matter,” he said. “That is not just unfair—it is an assault on the idea of India.”
The Election Commission has not yet issued a detailed response to Gandhi’s latest charges, but officials have previously maintained that all deletions and additions to electoral rolls follow due procedure. Supporters of the ruling party have dismissed Gandhi’s accusations as politically motivated, claiming the Congress is attempting to create a narrative of victimhood after electoral setbacks.
Still, the allegations strike a chord with many. The idea that software and technology could be weaponised to quietly erase thousands of names from voter rolls resonates with fears about how digital systems can be manipulated in the absence of robust safeguards. For ordinary citizens, the right to vote is one of the few ways to assert equality and dignity. Any suggestion that this right is being tampered with shakes public trust in democracy itself.
As the 2026 Assembly elections and the 2029 general elections loom on the horizon, Gandhi’s warning signals a brewing political battle not only over votes but over faith in India’s electoral system. Whether the Election Commission addresses these concerns decisively—or continues to face accusations of bias—will shape how Indians perceive the credibility of their democracy in the years ahead.