Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Chennithala Questions Maharashtra Voter-List Changes and Security
Ramesh Chennithala says Maharashtra’s voter lists changed unusually quickly.
He says 39 lakh new voters were added in five months after the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
He compares this with 32 lakh additions over the previous five years.
Chennithala says he noticed the difference while examining figures for individual constituencies.
He shared his concerns with Congress leaders.
Rahul Gandhi later raised the issue nationally using the phrase “Vote Chori,” which means vote theft.
Chennithala also questioned changes in a draft voter list created during a special review.
He wants the election process to be as transparent as possible.
Ramesh Chennithala alleged that 39 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra’s electoral rolls within five months of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
He said only 32 lakh people had been added to the state’s total voter population over the previous five years.
Chennithala said a constituency-wise review led him to identify what he described as large-scale irregularities.
He said he shared his findings with Congress’s national leadership, after concluding the issue raised a wider national concern.
He questioned changes in Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision draft roll and called for maximum transparency in elections.
- Who
- Ramesh Chennithala, a Congress leader and former organisational in-charge of Maharashtra, raised the concerns.
- What
- He questioned the addition of 39 lakh voters and changes to Maharashtra’s draft electoral roll.
- When
- He raised the concerns on Thursday, September 24; the year of the statement is not specified in the reports. The alleged voter additions occurred within five months after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India.
- Why
- Chennithala said the changes suggested possible irregularities and could affect citizens’ right to vote.
- Alleged new voters
- 39 lakh added within five months of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, according to Chennithala.
- Earlier five-year increase
- 32 lakh people added to Maharashtra’s total voter population over the previous five years, according to Chennithala.
- Review cited
- Chennithala said he examined voter changes constituency-wise.
- Electoral process
- The concerns include changes in Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision draft electoral roll.
- National response
- Chennithala said he shared his findings with Congress’s national leadership.
- Congress campaign
- Rahul Gandhi highlighted the issue nationally under the slogan “Vote Chori.”
- Demand
- Chennithala called for maximum transparency in the electoral process.
