Rahul Gandhi's big 'vote chori' charges against EC: 'Software deleted votes, 10 Cong booths targeted'

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday, intensified his attack on the Election Commission, alleging that it was “protecting” those “destroying Indian democracy” by enabling systematic voter deletions in Congress strongholds.

“First of all, this is not the H-bomb; the H-bomb is coming. This is another milestone in setting up and demonstrating to the youth of this country how elections are being rigged,” Gandhi told reporters at a press conference in Delhi.

Accusing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of shielding those responsible, he said, “By not providing information, they are defending murderers of democracy.”

Gandhi, backed by solid evidence, accused the EC of supporting voter deletions and additions in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

He presented examples and instances of how the exercise has been executed.

The Aland Files

Citing the Aland constituency in Karnataka as a case study, Gandhi alleged that 6,018 fake voter deletion applications were filed during the 2023 polls.

“Somebody tried to delete 6,018 votes, though the actual figure may be higher. This fraud was caught by coincidence when a booth-level officer discovered her uncle’s name missing. When she traced it, she found it was shown as deleted by a neighbour—yet the neighbour had no knowledge of it. Neither the person deleting nor the person whose vote was deleted knew. Some other force hijacked the process,” he claimed.

Aland is a constituency in Karnataka; 6,018 votes. Somebody tried to delete 6,018 votes. We don't know the total number of votes that were deleted in Aland in the 2023 election. They're likely much higher than 6,018.

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But somebody got caught deleting 6,018 votes, and it was… pic.twitter.com/jQeMv6KXv2

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 18, 2025

According to Gandhi, the deletions were carried out using software that impersonated voters and filed applications remotely. “The people who supposedly filed these applications never actually did so. Mobile numbers from outside Karnataka, from other states, were used to delete votes in Aland, specifically targeting Congress voters,” he said.

He further alleged that the operation was not random but concentrated in booths where Congress was dominant. “The top 10 booths with maximum deletions were Congress strongholds. Congress had won eight out of these 10 in 2018. This was no coincidence; it was a planned operation,” he claimed.

“In Aland, 6,018 applications were filed impersonating voters. The people who filed these applications actually never filed them. The filing was done automatically using software," Gandhi stated, further explaining, "Mobile numbers from outside Karnataka, from different states, were used to delete numbers in Aland, and it was done targeting Congress voters".

A 'centralised system'

Explaining the alleged voter manipulation, Gandhi said it was carried out at scale through an automated system rather than by individual party workers.

“Look at the serial numbers. Serial number 1 means the first name in the booth. A software was programmed to pick up that first name and use it for deletions. Automated programs ensured the first voter became the ‘applicant’. Cellphone numbers from outside Karnataka were then used to file applications. This wasn’t done by workers; it was done at a call-centre level,” he alleged.

How this is being done and why we are saying that this is being done in a centralised manner. This is being done not by individuals but through the use of software.

Look at the serial numbers: serial number 1 means that this is the first name in the booth. So a software is… pic.twitter.com/xih5rSORQp

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 18, 2025

He argued that the pattern of deletions showed the operation was centrally coordinated, not random.

“This is not the work of individuals on the ground, it is being executed through software,” Gandhi said. “If you study the serial numbers, you see the design. The program was coded to pick up the first name in the booth and generate a deletion request.”

According to him, the system ensured the first voter in every booth appeared as the applicant for deletion, with out-of-state mobile numbers validating the process.

“We are convinced this was done in a centralised manner and at scale. It wasn’t the handiwork of local workers, it was organised at a call-centre level,” he alleged.

Godabai Case

Further, he alleged that a fake login was created under the name of ‘Godabai’, which was then used to attempt the deletion of 12 votes.

Example number ONE:
A lady called Godabai. Someone created fake logins, deleted 12 voters, and attempted to delete—because this attempt was stopped. Godabai, of course, has no idea.

These were the cell phone numbers that were used to delete these people from voter list. These… pic.twitter.com/UzYkIv2opS

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 18, 2025

“This deletion of votes was done in a centralised manner using software and not through individuals,” Gandhi said, alleging that the manipulation was “planned action” in booths where the Congress had an advantage.

Suryakant Case

He explained the modus operandi with an example from the constituency, where a booth-level officer discovered her uncle’s name missing from the list. On tracing it, she found her neighbour’s ID linked to the deletion, though the neighbour denied any involvement. “Neither the deleter nor the deleted knew. That tells you how the system was compromised,” Gandhi said.

Example 02: Suryakant

This gentleman apparently deleted 12 voters in 14 minutes. He filled 12 deletion forms in 14 minutes.

Babita Chaudhary is one of the votes that Suryakant is supposed to have deleted.

: LoP Shri @RahulGandhi, in the presence of Mr. Suryakant and Ms.… pic.twitter.com/6RcIh2muY1

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 18, 2025

Gandhi went on to cite individual cases as evidence of the alleged fraud. He claimed that the identity of one ‘Suryakant’ was used to file 12 fake voter deletion forms within 14 minutes. He also alleged that the deletion form of one ‘Babita Chaudhary’ had been falsely attributed to Suryakant.

Nagaraj case

Gandhi further pointed out another case study - Nagaraj. He claimed that two applications were filed within 36 seconds at 4:07 am in the name of Nagaraj, only further adding to state, “I ask the youth of India, try filling out two forms in 36 seconds. You’ll see how impossible it is without automation,” Gandhi said.

Example 03: Nagaraj

Two applications were filed and submitted in 36 seconds. Please try filling these forms and see how long it takes you. I ask the youth of India, try it. Try filling two forms in 36 seconds. You'll see the answer to this question.

Notice also the time this… pic.twitter.com/JsXWKrzxb1

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 18, 2025

According to Gandhi, the deletions were far from coincidental.

He pointed out that the top 10 booths with the highest number of voter deletions were all Congress strongholds, with the party having secured victory in eight of them during the 2018 elections. This, he argued, was not a random occurrence but evidence of a “planned operation” targeting opposition voters.

Further lashing out, the Congress MP stated, “Some groups of people are systematically targeting millions of voters for deletion. Minorities, Dalits, and Congress voters have been specifically targeted".

Targeted deletions in strong Congress booths.

👉The top 10 booths with maximum deletions were Congress strongholds.

👉Congress won 8 out of the 10 booths in 2018.

👉 This was not a coincidence; this was a planned operation.

: LoP Shri @RahulGandhi

📍 Delhi pic.twitter.com/DJV2YTIFv2

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 18, 2025

Gandhi claimed similar “targeted deletions” had also occurred in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, systematically focusing on minorities, Dalits, and Congress supporters.

He cited another example from Maharashtra's Rajura constituency, where, he claims, following the same modus operandi, there had been alleged 6,850 voter additions.

'No response from EC'

Gandhi also accused the Election Commission of stonewalling investigations.

He slammed CEC Kumar for shielding those behind the alleged large-scale voter manipulation scheme. The LoP said the Karnataka CID has written 18 times in 18 months to the Election Commission seeking basic technical data that would expose the origin of the operation, but has received no cooperation.

Let's come to why I'm making such a direct accusation against the CEC, Gyanesh Kumar. There is an ongoing investigation on this matter in Karnataka. The CID of Karnataka has sent 18 letters in 18 months to the Election Commission. And they have asked the election commission for… pic.twitter.com/V8aWBkfszj

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 18, 2025

Quoting the CID’s letters, he added, “Number one, give us the destination IP from where these forms were filled. Number two, give us the device destination ports. And number three, most importantly, give us the OTP trails, because when you file, you have to get an OTP.”

Gandhi alleged the EC has withheld these details deliberately.

He also laid out the timeline -- an FIR filed on February 23; a CID request to the EC in March; a partial reply in August without the key data; another request on January 24 with no response; and by September 25, 18 reminder letters sent.

Reiterating his earlier warning of a forthcoming “hydrogen bomb” of evidence, Gandhi said Thursday’s press conference was only a precursor. “This is not the H-bomb; that is coming. But this shows clearly how democracy  is being hijacked in India.”

The EC, however, quickly dismissed Gandhi’s charges, calling them “incorrect” and “baseless.” The poll panel rejected the Congress leader's claims of voter list manipulation, calling them “incorrect and baseless.”