“Who is ECI shielding?” Congress chief Kharge asks after Rahul Gandhi’s voter deletion charge
Published: September 18, 2025 • Dateline: New Delhi • Read: 6–8 minutes
Hours after Rahul Gandhi accused officials of enabling mass voter deletions in Karnataka’s Aland and elsewhere, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge escalated the attack with a pointed question: “Who is ECI shielding?” Kharge’s remarks drew on Gandhi’s “vote-chori” charge and revived earlier demands for data disclosure from election authorities.
Key takeaways
- New salvo: Kharge asked who the Election Commission of India (ECI) is “shielding” after Gandhi’s voter deletion charge.
- Backdrop: Gandhi alleged mass targeted deletions in Karnataka’s Aland, citing “proof.” (Allegation)
- ECI reaction: The Commission has dismissed the “online deletion” narrative as incorrect and baseless.
What Kharge said
Kharge amplified the opposition’s line and pressed the poll body for transparency, asking “Who is ECI shielding?” He referenced Gandhi’s charge to demand a full accounting of the processes used for roll revisions and deletions.
Rahul Gandhi’s allegations at a glance
| Claim | Details stated | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mass deletions in Aland | About 6,000+ names targeted using centralized software and fake logins | Allegation (evidence promised at presser) |
| Institutional shielding | CEC “protecting destroyers of democracy,” per Gandhi | Allegation |
What the Election Commission has said
The ECI has rejected the claim that votes can be deleted “online” by outsiders and called the charges “incorrect and baseless.” It says the deletion process remains decentralized and layered by law.
Today’s back-and-forth leaves the core dispute unresolved: the opposition wants raw technical logs and trace data, while the Commission insists safeguards exist. Any release of granular logs has not been reported at the time of writing.
Why this face-off matters
- Voter confidence: Allegations of mass deletions—if proven—strike at democratic legitimacy. If disproven, transparent audits can rebuild trust.
- Process clarity: Parties and electors need clear, time-bound pathways to contest deletions during roll revision windows.
- Institutional accountability: Demands for logs, notices, and decision trails will likely get louder across states.
Quick FAQs
Did Kharge ask “Who is ECI shielding?”
Yes. He raised the question while reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations.
What exactly did the ECI say today?
The Commission dismissed the “online deletion” narrative as incorrect and baseless.
Are the deletion figures verified?
The opposition claims are allegations pending independent verification with technical logs and formal disclosures.
