New Delhi, September 18, 2025
Rahul Gandhi-Leader of Opposition, In a fiery press conference today accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of enabling “vote chori” (vote theft) that threatens the foundations of Indian democracy. He described a systematic process where voter names—particularly those of the poor, Dalits, minorities, and Congress supporters—are allegedly deleted using fake forms filed via computers and out-of-state phone numbers. This, Gandhi claims, allows one party to rig elections undetected.
The event wasn’t mere rhetoric; Gandhi presented eyewitness accounts and evidence from Karnataka and Maharashtra, emphasizing that such manipulations strike at the heart of every citizen’s voice. As an Indian, the vibrancy of election day—families with inked fingers, heated debates over chai—feels under siege if these allegations hold true. Let’s unpack the details.
What Happened at the Rahul Gandhi Press Conference
At 10 AM in New Delhi’s Indira Bhawan Auditorium, the atmosphere was electric with journalists, Congress supporters, and onlookers. Rahul Gandhi took the stage holding the Indian Constitution, beginning with the national anthem to underscore the stakes for India’s democratic soul.
He directly targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stating, “You are protecting those who are breaking our democracy.” Gandhi alleged the ECI is concealing details on voter deletions, calling it a deliberate crime against fair elections. “This isn’t a mistake—it’s a crime against every Indian dreaming of a fair future,” he asserted.
Gandhi detailed the mechanism: Fraudsters use automated systems and borrowed phone numbers from other states to submit deletion forms in as little as 36 seconds. Victims, often from opposition strongholds, remain unaware, as do those whose devices are exploited.
To humanize the issue, he invited Babita Choudhary, a villager whose name vanished from the rolls despite no wrongdoing. “I did nothing wrong. How can my vote just disappear?” she said tearfully. Another witness, a man unaware his phone was used for hundreds of fake deletions, highlighted the impersonal scale of the fraud.
The hour-long briefing ended with Gandhi teasing more evidence as the “real hydrogen bomb” and urging youth to defend the Constitution. “Your jobs, your dreams—they depend on this. Don’t let them steal it,” he implored. The crowd erupted in cheers laced with outrage, signaling the start of a broader battle.
Proof from the Ground: Karnataka and Beyond
Gandhi backed his claims with concrete examples, beginning with the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections in Aland, Kalaburagi district. Here, 6,018 voter names were targeted for deletion via fake forms traced to out-of-state phones. The plot unraveled when a booth-level officer (BLO) noticed her relative’s name missing, revealing forms filed by unaware locals using automated tools. Targeted deletions hit Congress-leaning areas, especially Dalits and minorities.
Karnataka’s CID investigated from February 2023, sending 18 letters over 18 months requesting ECI data like IP addresses, OTPs, and mobile numbers. The ECI provided no response, which Gandhi called a cover-up: “They’re hiding it because it will expose the whole scam—like a call center stealing votes.”
The issue extends further. In Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, over 1 lakh irregularities emerged: duplicates, impossible addresses (e.g., 80 voters at one home), and missing CCTV footage. Similar patterns appeared in Maharashtra’s Rajura, targeting opposition bastions. Gandhi warned of ongoing threats in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. “Elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka—they’re being stolen like this,” he said.
This builds on his August 7 “atom bomb” revelations, backed by a six-month study by 40 Congress workers, including tips from ECI insiders. It’s a nationwide pattern, he insists, eroding electoral integrity.
Why Vote Chori Matters for India’s Elections
Voting empowers every Indian—from Delhi shopkeepers to Bihar farmers—to shape the nation’s path. Yet targeted deletions from marginalized groups effectively disenfranchise them, tilting the scales unfairly. Gandhi labeled it the “Gujarat model” expanding nationwide, a calculated edge for one party.
With Bihar’s 2025 assembly elections looming, the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists draws scrutiny as another potential vector for deletions. Opposition parties decry it as manipulative. In a nation of 90 crore voters, shattered trust could invalidate results entirely.
Election days in small towns evoke pride and community. But whispers of rigging now undermine that. This isn’t just Congress vs. BJP—it’s a safeguard for democracy’s future. As Gandhi put it: “I’m here to fight in democracy, not protect it. But the ECI must do its job.”
“Your jobs, your dreams—they depend on this Constitution. Don’t let them steal it.” – Rahul Gandhi
What Are People Saying?
Inside the auditorium, cheers drowned out doubts, with supporters chanting “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod!” (Vote thief, leave the throne!). On social media, #VoteChori trended rapidly, with conference videos surpassing 1 million views. Lawyer Prashant Bhushan posted: “Rahul exposes how vote deletions are planned under ECI’s nose.”
The ECI swiftly rebutted, labeling claims “baseless” and clarifying that deletions require hearings, not online actions. They noted an FIR in Aland for attempted fraud but emphasized Congress’s win there, while dodging the 18 CID letters. The ECI demanded Gandhi affirm his allegations under oath or apologize, citing minimal prior complaints from Congress.
BJP leaders dismissed it as desperation. Ravi Shankar Prasad quipped, “Rahul makes noise but brings no new facts. People don’t trust Congress anymore.” Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai called it a ploy amid lacking issues. Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai advocated a judicial probe.
Allies rallied: NCP’s Sharad Pawar deemed it a “wake-up call for fair elections.” X users shared anecdotes, like one: “My uncle’s vote vanished in Haryana—now it makes sense.” BJP countered that Congress historically lost close seats despite such claims. The debate rages, polarizing yet galvanizing public discourse.
What’s Next? How Can We Help?
Gandhi vowed escalation: Demand ECI release all data (IPs, OTPs, phones) within a week, or face courts and protests. Congress launched votechori.in, where users can register, view proofs, and receive a “fair elections” certificate via missed call to 9650003420. The site exposes over 1 lakh Bengaluru irregularities and rallies against what they call a 70-100 seat swing enabler.
For individuals: Verify your status on nvsp.in. Alert neighbors and report anomalies to local election offices. Gandhi’s message: “Once people know, they won’t let this happen.” India has overcome greater trials—freedom, rights. Now, protect the vote.
Reflecting on my first voting experience in a UP village, that inked finger symbolized empowerment. We can’t let it erode. The “hydrogen bomb” looms—what’s your take? Share below.
FAQs: Your Questions on Rahul Gandhi’s Vote Chori Claims Answered
1. What is ‘vote chori’ in simple words?
Vote chori refers to the unauthorized removal of genuine voters’ names from electoral rolls using fake forms and digital tools, allegedly to favor one party in elections.
2. Why did Rahul Gandhi call it a ‘hydrogen bomb’?
Gandhi described his forthcoming evidence as a “hydrogen bomb” for its potential to devastatingly expose widespread election fraud, promising more revelations soon.
3. What proof did he show from Karnataka?
In Aland, 6,018 names were targeted for deletion via out-of-state phones; Karnataka CID’s 18 unanswered letters to ECI sought key digital trails.
4. Who is losing their votes?
Primarily Dalits, minorities, OBCs, and opposition supporters—vulnerable groups less equipped to detect or contest deletions.
5. What did the Election Commission India say?
The ECI deemed claims “baseless,” stressing deletions need hearings and demanding Gandhi’s sworn affidavit or apology; they noted an Aland FIR but ignored CID queries.
6. How can I make sure my vote is safe?
Log into nvsp.in with your details to check the rolls; report discrepancies to your local election office promptly.
7. Is vote chori only in Karnataka?
No—Gandhi alleges it’s systemic across Maharashtra, Haryana, UP, and beyond, like a coordinated “vote-stealing factory.”
8. What’s Congress’s next step after the Rahul Gandhi press conference?
Protests, legal action, and mobilization via votechori.in; ECI data demanded in one week.
9. Why should young people care about vote chori?
It silences your influence on jobs, education, and economy—act now to secure a fair shot at the future, as Gandhi urged.
10. Can vote chori really affect elections?
Absolutely; 5,000 deletions can flip a seat, critical in tight contests like Bihar 2025.