Rahul Gandhi Drops ‘Hydrogen Bomb’ on Election Commission: Alleges Systematic ‘Vote Chori’ in Karnataka, Demands Probe
Congress Leader Accuses ECI of Systematic Voter Roll Tampering, Demands Probe by September 25
NewsArc Bureau
New Delhi, September 18, 2025 – In a fiery press conference that has electrified political circles, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi unleashed a barrage of allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of shielding a massive “vote theft” operation orchestrated by the ruling BJP. Addressing mediapersons at the Indira Bhawan Auditorium here at 10 AM, Gandhi presented what he called “100% proof” of voter deletions targeting opposition strongholds, dubbing the revelations a “hydrogen bomb” that could dismantle Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s credibility.
‘Vote Chori’ Exposed: Specific Deletions in Karnataka Booths, ECI’s Refusal to Share Data
Gandhi, flanked by Congress leaders including Pawan Khera, kicked off the 30-minute briefing with a PowerPoint presentation detailing alleged manipulations from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He zeroed in on Karnataka’s Aland assembly constituency, claiming 6,018 voter names—predominantly from Dalit, tribal, minority, and OBC communities—were deleted en masse from electoral rolls. “We had heard of this many times, but now we have 100% proof. This isn’t random; it’s targeted theft on booths where Congress was winning,” Gandhi asserted, showing documents of fake login IDs used to file deletion applications without victims’ knowledge.
Escalating the attack, Gandhi singled out Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging the ECI has stonewalled Karnataka’s CID, which sent 18 letters over 18 months seeking critical data like destination IPs, device ports, and OTP trails for suspicious applications. “The CEC is protecting those destroying Indian democracy. If there’s nothing to hide, why refuse this information? It will reveal the operation’s base,” he thundered, warning that the withheld data points to a centralized fraud hub run by BJP affiliates. Gandhi reiterated his September 1 promise from the Voter Adhikar Yatra’s conclusion, stating the expose would ensure “Modi won’t be able to show his face” post-revelations.
The Congress leader framed the issue as an “atom bomb on our democracy,” citing similar patterns in Mahadevapura where over one lakh votes were allegedly stolen. He demanded an immediate, time-bound judicial probe, urging the ECI to release the requested data and investigate the deletions, which he claimed bypassed mandatory hearings for affected voters.
BJP Fires Back, Calls Allegations ‘Baseless’; ECI Rebuts with Procedural Defenses
The presser drew swift backlash from the BJP, which held a counter-briefing labeling Gandhi’s claims “habitual falsehoods” and dubbing him a “spy agent and flop professor.” BJP spokesperson Shaina NC mocked the “hydrogen bomb” as a recycled PPT gimmick, insisting no public deletions occur without verification and pointing to an FIR filed by ECI in 2023 over Aland attempts. “For 75 years, Congress looted jobs and money; now they peddle conspiracy theories,” quipped Minister Sanjay Nishad from Azamgarh.
The ECI, in a detailed response, dismissed the allegations as “incorrect and baseless,” clarifying that deletions require in-person hearings and cannot be done online by outsiders. It highlighted the 2023 Aland FIR and noted the constituency’s electoral history—won by BJP in 2018, Congress in 2023—as evidence against systemic bias. However, Gandhi’s unanswered questions lingered: Why ignore CID’s 18 pleas? How did individuals misuse names for deletions without consent?
Former CEC S.Y. Quraishi backed Gandhi earlier this week, criticizing the ECI’s “objectionable” tone and urging a probe over rebuttals. NCP’s Sharad Pawar echoed support, calling the opposition’s parliamentary walkout a historic signal against electoral malfeasance.
Broader Implications: Row Intensifies Ahead of Bihar Polls, Opposition Unity Grows
The conference, teased by Congress with a “fasten your seatbelts” video, comes amid heightened scrutiny of the ECI’s neutrality, especially with Bihar Assembly elections looming. Gandhi’s expose builds on his August claims, positioning the Congress as democracy’s guardian. Sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hailed it as an “organized effort” unmasked, while advocate Ritu Bhariok and others demanded swift action to restore public trust.
As the “vote chori” row escalates, with BJP dismissing it as pre-poll drama, the opposition’s push for transparency could galvanize anti-incumbency sentiments. Social media erupted, with hashtags like #VoteChori and #HydrogenBomb trending, while right-wing influencers geared up for rebuttals. With the Supreme Court potentially drawn in, today’s revelations mark a pivotal moment in India’s electoral discourse, testing the ECI’s autonomy and the BJP’s dominance.
