Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Rahul Gandhi Says Vote Deletions Will Bring Accountability
Rahul Gandhi visited a settlement called Bela Estate in New Delhi.
He said many residents had lost their names from the voter list.
According to him, 728 of 729 voters in one cluster were removed.
The residents said they had identity documents and had voted in earlier elections.
Gandhi called removing even one person’s vote “vote chori.”
He said everyone responsible should be held accountable.
He also criticized the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
The Election Commission said disagreements inside an institution can happen and that its orders follow the law.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that deleting even one vote amounts to “vote chori” and promised accountability from officials at every level.
He said residents of Bela Estate’s Bela Cluster reported that 728 of 729 voters had been removed from electoral rolls.
Residents told Gandhi they had lived there for generations, worked as farmers and labourers, and possessed documents proving Indian identity.
Gandhi criticized the Special Intensive Revision process and accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of enabling election manipulation.
The Election Commission said differing views among commissioners are normal and that its orders follow statutory procedures and have legal sanction.
- Who
- Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Bela Estate residents, and the Election Commission, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- What
- Gandhi alleged that voters’ names were wrongly removed from electoral rolls and called the action “vote chori.”
- When
- Gandhi made the remarks on Wednesday, September 30, after visiting Bela Estate on Monday evening; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- Bela Estate’s Bela Cluster, a settlement on the banks of the Yamuna in New Delhi.
- Why
- Gandhi said residents’ voting rights were being denied during the Special Intensive Revision process; the Election Commission said its orders followed established statutory procedures.
Rahul Gandhi’s allegations
Election Commission’s response
Removal of voter names
Rahul Gandhi’s allegations
Gandhi said removing even one voter from the rolls is “vote chori” and alleged that poor and homeless residents were being denied voting rights.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission did not specifically address the Bela Cluster figures in the article, but said its orders followed statutory procedures and had full legal sanction.
Special Intensive Revision
Rahul Gandhi’s allegations
Gandhi described the ongoing SIR as a method of “vote chori” and said the system behind it would have to answer.
Election Commission’s response
The EC said differing views among commissioners are a normal part of institutional deliberations.
Commissioner disagreements
Rahul Gandhi’s allegations
Gandhi’s remarks followed a report that Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected to SIR decisions issued without their knowledge or recommendation.
Election Commission’s response
The EC said internal differences and observations do not invalidate its orders, which it said follow established statutory procedures.
- Reported voter deletions
- 728 of 729 voters in the Bela Cluster were reportedly struck off the rolls.
- Location
- Bela Estate, on the banks of the Yamuna in New Delhi.
- Residents’ claim
- Residents said they had lived there for generations, worked as farmers and labourers, and possessed identity documents.
- Gandhi’s position
- He said erasing even one vote is “vote chori” and that those responsible would be held accountable.
- Election process
- The controversy concerns the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls.
- Election Commission response
- The EC said differing views and observations are normal in institutional deliberations and that its orders have legal sanction.
- Commissioner objections
- The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times to SIR-related decisions or orders over 10 months.