NEW DELHI — Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched a sharp attack against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the deletion of 727 voters from the electoral rolls in Delhi’s Bela Estate area, characterizing the move as a form of “vote theft.”
Responding to the allegations, the Election Commission stated that the procedural exclusions were carried out under established rules following site demolitions, while confirming that the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) has extended deadlines for filing claims and objections to ensure no eligible voter is left out.
Key Allegations & Opposition Stance
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Charge of Exclusion: Rahul Gandhi asserted on social media platform X that housing status or homelessness should not impact a citizen’s right to vote, pointing out that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had previously designated “House Number 0” for homeless electors.
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Systemic Criticism: Expanding his criticism of the election management body, Gandhi alleged that striking off vulnerable citizens from the rolls strips them of their primary constitutional power, calling for accountability within the electoral administration.
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Demands on Leadership: The incident adds to ongoing political friction surrounding the top leadership of the poll panel, following recent public debates over internal deliberations among election commissioners regarding electoral roll revision procedures.
Election Commission Clarification & Remedial Process
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Rationelle for Deletions: The ECI explained that house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) revealed the registered residential units in Bela Estate were demolished in 2022–23. As electors no longer physically resided at those addresses, their status changed under Section 20(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, leading to their placement on the Absentee, Shifted, Dead, and Duplicate (ASDD) list.
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Extension of Claims Timeline: The Commission reiterated its commitment to transparent and inclusive polling, confirming that concerned EROs have already addressed the matter and extended the timeline for affected residents to submit claims and re-enroll on the voter list.
