Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of 'vote theft' after millions of voters' names were removed from draft lists in Delhi and Maharashtra, alleging a conspiracy to ensure BJP's victory.
- Millions of voters have been removed from the draft electoral rolls in Delhi and Maharashtra.
- Rahul Gandhi labeled the Election Commission as a 'Vote Theft Commission'.
- Allegations suggest a pattern of selective addition and deletion of voters to favor the ruling party.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the removal of a massive number of voters from the draft electoral rolls in Delhi and Maharashtra under the Special Election Revision (SIR). Gandhi termed this process as 'vote theft,' alleging that the objective is to ensure a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at any cost, thereby undermining the foundations of Indian democracy.
Focusing on Maharashtra, Gandhi pointed out a suspicious trend where 3.9 million new voters were added between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. He claimed that he had flagged this as 'vote theft' even then. Now, with millions of names being deleted from the draft list, he argues that the government is manipulating the rolls to suit its political needs. He remarked that a government formed through such 'theft' naturally feels no accountability toward the general public.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the transparency of voter registration is critical for the legitimacy of any election. When millions of names disappear from the rolls without clear justification, it creates a perception of systemic bias. Such controversies often lead to decreased voter turnout and a loss of faith in the democratic process, which could trigger legal battles in the Supreme Court.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these sentiments on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the BJP's conspiracy to hollow out Indian democracy has been exposed. Kharge alleged that voters are added where it benefits the BJP and deleted where it poses a threat. He went as far as calling the ECI the 'BJP's Seat-Saving Commission' (Kursi Bachao Commission).
The systematic removal of voters from electoral rolls is a direct assault on the principle of 'one person, one vote,' threatening the essence of fair representation.
Kharge cited West Bengal as a prime example, claiming that 91% of the names removed there were restored after appeals. He questioned whether these names were intentionally deleted to handicap the opposition during the polling process.
| State | Approx. Voters Removed | Core Allegation |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 4.75 Million | Mass deletion from SIR draft roll |
| Maharashtra | 20.7 Million | Suspicious addition of 3.9M voters earlier |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why did Rahul Gandhi use the term 'vote theft'?
A: He believes the Election Commission is selectively removing voters who are likely to vote against the BJP to manipulate election outcomes.
Q2: How many voters are affected in Delhi and Maharashtra?
A: Approximately 4.75 million in Delhi and 20.7 million in Maharashtra have been excluded from the draft rolls.
