New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday firmly rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that the poll body had obstructed an investigation into large-scale voter deletions. In an official statement, the Commission described the charges as “incorrect and baseless” and stressed that its systems are designed to prevent arbitrary removals from the rolls.
The Commission clarified that no voter can be deleted online by a member of the public, and every removal is subject to due process, including an opportunity for the voter concerned to be heard. Addressing Gandhi’s claim that over 6,000 names had been deleted in Karnataka’s Aland constituency, the ECI acknowledged that attempts at fraudulent deletions were detected in 2023. However, it said those attempts were unsuccessful and pointed out that the Commission itself had filed an FIR in the case. The matter, it added, remains under investigation.
The ECI also noted that in the 2023 assembly election, the Aland constituency was won by the Congress candidate, suggesting that the opposition’s charge of manipulation did not align with the actual outcome. Stressing its commitment to transparency and neutrality, the Commission dismissed Gandhi’s remarks as “misconceived” and cautioned that such claims risk undermining public faith in India’s democratic institutions.
