EC rejects Rahul Gandhi’s charge against Gyanesh Kumar, calls Congress leader’s allegations ‘incorrect’ and ‘baseless’

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India(BHARAT) (ECI) dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of voter list manipulation, terming them “incorrect and baseless”. The poll body stressed that votes cannot be deleted online. “Allegations made by Rahul Gandhi are incorrect and baseless,” the poll body said in a statement. It also clarified that “no deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Rahul Gandhi.”

The Commission also highlighted that due process is mandatory before any change in the electoral roll. “No deletion can take place without giving an opportunity of being heard to the affected person,” it added.

Addressing the controversy over alleged deletions in Karnataka’s Aland Assembly constituency, the ECI pointed out that it was the Commission itself that had flagged anomalies last year.

“In 2023, certain unsuccessful attempts were made for the deletion of electors in the Aland Assembly Constituency and an FIR was filed by the authority of ECI itself to investigate the matter,” the statement noted.

EC RESPONSE to Vote Chori allegation:

1. Allegations made by Rahul Gandhi are incorrect and baseless.
2. No Deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Rahul Gandhi.
3. No deletion can take place without giving an opportunity of being heard to the affected person.
4. In 2023, certain unsuccessful attempts were made for deletion of electors in Aland Assembly Constituency and an FIR was filed by the authority of ECI itself to investigate the matter.
5. As per records. Aland Assembly Constituency was won by Subhadh Guttedar (BJP) in 2018 and BR Patil (INC) in 2023

Rahul Gandhi Targerts Election Commission:

Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged the mass deletion of voters from Congress strongholds in Karnataka during the 2023 Assembly election. These voter IDs, he alleged, were deleted using fake logins and phone numbers from outside the state. He also alleged that this alleged voter deletion was being executed not by individuals, but with the use of software and in a centralised manner.

The Congress leader, while addressing a press conference, alleged large-scale vote theft, claiming that in Karnataka’s Aland constituency, 6,018 voter names were found to have been deleted.

He further added that the fraud was exposed only by chance when a booth-level officer discovered that even her own uncle’s vote had been removed from the rolls. He further asserted that he would not make any statement without being backed by “100 per cent truth and proof.”

The Congress scion emphasised his commitment to the Constitution and democratic values. Gandhi said he loves his country and is dedicated to protecting its democratic process. He further assured that everything he says will be verifiable and based on evidence that can be determined and proven.