Karnataka Aland: Rahul Gandhi Claims Mass Voter List Deletions with Evidence

Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP, EC of Vote Fraud in Karnataka; Poll Body Dismisses Claims.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP and the Election Commission of running a “centralised voter fraud” scheme to delete names from electoral rolls, calling it the “murder of democracy.”

At a Delhi press conference, Gandhi claimed over 6,000 votes were struck off in Karnataka’s Aland constituency ahead of the 2023 state polls through “automated software manipulation” and fake applications using mobile numbers from outside the state. “The top booths with maximum deletions were Congress strongholds. This was no accident — it was a planned operation,” he alleged, accusing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting “vote thieves.”

He cited a case where a booth-level officer discovered her uncle’s name missing, allegedly deleted using a neighbour’s details without their knowledge. Karnataka’s CID has sent 18 requests for digital records to the EC, Gandhi said, but the poll body has “stonewalled” the probe.

The Election Commission hit back, calling his allegations “baseless and irresponsible,” insisting that deletions cannot be done online and follow due verification by officials.

Gandhi stressed that Thursday’s disclosure was only a “preview” of the “hydrogen bomb” of evidence he has promised after his Voter Adhikar Yatra. Last month, he alleged over one lakh votes were “stolen” in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura seat.

The row comes months before key state elections and ahead of the 2026 general election, setting up a fierce clash over the credibility of India’s electoral process.