Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of protecting "vote chori" (vote thieves) and blocking investigations into systematic deletions targeting opposition voters, primarily from OBC, Dalit, and marginalized communities. The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) issued a detailed rebuttal, which the BJP has framed as a direct debunking of Gandhi's claims.

Key Background: The Alanda Voter Deletion Probe:

The Allegations: In December 2022, 6,018 Form 7 applications (for voter deletions) were submitted online via ECI apps like NVSP, VHA and Garuda App for Aland (Kalaburagi district). Gandhi claimed this was a "centralized" attempt using software and out-of-state phones to delete Congress supporters' names, calling it a "hydrogen bomb" threat to democracy.Also Read: Booker Prize Winner Banu Mushtaq's Dasara Inauguration: Hearing in Supreme Court Today!

He alleged the ECI refused to share critical data (e.g., IP addresses, device ports, OTP trails) with Karnataka's Crime Investigation Department (CID), which sent 18 requests over 18 months.

ECI's Initial Stance: The ECI labeled Gandhi's broader "vote chori" narrative as "baseless and incorrect," noting that public deletions require verification and can't be done online unilaterally.

The CEO's September 18, 2025, Response-

Verification Process: Suspecting fraud in the bulk applications, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Assistant ERO (AERO), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) verified each one.

Outcome: Only 24 were genuine and processed; the remaining 5,994 were rejected as "incorrect" (e.g., fake details) and no names were deleted.

Police Cooperation: An FIR was filed in January 2023 at Aland Police Station based on ECI findings. The CEO provided all available data (including IP logs) to Kalaburagi police and held meetings with investigators and cyber experts to aid the probe.

On CID Requests: The note implies full cooperation since 2023 but doesn't detail why some specifics (like full OTP trails) weren't shared—reports suggest partial IP data was provided, but not comprehensive device/port details as of early 2025.Vogaan Men's T-Shirt and Shorts Set | Top & Shorts Night Suits Set | Night Wear for Men

Rahul Gandhi's Claim-

-6,018 targeted deletions of opposition voters

Systematic "vote theft" occurred

Blocked CID probe for 18 months

ECI protecting BJP "vote chors"

Karnataka CEO's Response-

6,018 received; only 24 valid, rest rejected

Zero deletions from invalid forms; process prevented fraud

FIR filed in 2023; data shared, meetings held with cyber experts

ECI verified & acted swiftly; probe ongoing

Broader Context: Gandhi's "Vote Chori" Campaign and ECI Notices

This isn't isolated—Gandhi's allegations date back to August 2025, claiming 100,250 "fake votes" in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura (via duplicates and bulk registrations), predicting Congress wins in 16 Karnataka LS seats but securing only 9.