Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: ‘Incorrect, baseless’, EC rejects Rahul Gandhi’s allegations against CEC

New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) The AAP on Thursday alleged that names of 42,000 voters were deleted in the New Delhi constituency before the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections and asserted that party chief Arvind Kejriwal had exposed "vote chori" long before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj said the Election Commission had refused to probe the matter despite glaring evidence, and when it finally summoned applicants for vote deletions, only 11 people turned up -- all of whom denied filing such requests.

There was no immediate reaction to AAP's charges by the Election Commission.

After his vote theft charges, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting those who indulged in "vote chori" and "destroyed democracy" while citing data from a Karnataka assembly constituency to claim that votes of Congress voters were being systematically deleted in a targeted manner.

The Election Commission, however, dubbed the charges as "incorrect and baseless" and asserted that no deletion of votes can happen without giving an opportunity of being heard to the affected person.

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Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Thursday attacked opposition leaders including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying they were "craving for power like a fish out of water". Maurya also said that these leaders were not going to succeed in their ambition as the BJP would remain in power till 2047.

Talking to reporters here, Maurya said Gandhi was frustrated as he considered power his family's right but the people of the country had rejected him.

"Rahul Gandhi is arrogant and unable to digest Narendra Modi's leadership. He cannot tolerate that a tea seller has become prime minister for the third consecutive time," Maurya said.

"Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav (RJD leader) and Akhilesh Yadav are craving for power like a fish out of water but would not succeed in their ambition as the BJP would remain in power till 2047," he said, claiming that Modi would continue to lead the country for the next 25 years.

Taking a dig at Gandhi over his criticism of the Election Commission, Maurya said the Congress leader was like a "disgruntled cat scratching the pole" and accused him of habitually making tall claims like triggering "earthquakes" or "hydrogen bombs" that never materialise.

He said Gandhi was the only leader who skipped Independence Day celebrations and the vice president's oath-taking ceremony. Targeting Akhilesh Yadav, the deputy CM said he was confined to 'X' and unaware of ground realities.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi can be equated to a ‘serial liar’. “All these allegations about poll-rigging are part of Congress campaign to mislead the people. But they will not succeed. Such malicious campaign against BJP without proof is going to boomerang,” he said. “Rahul Gandhi has set new standards by weaving baseless imagination theories with great confidence,” Fadnavis said. “The Congress had great expectations from Maharashtra Assembly polls. Unfortunately, they were routed by BJP and alliance partners. They are not able to reconcile with ground realities,” he said. “Rahul Gandhi's conduct is akin to Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's chief propagandist. However, one thing is evident over the years is that Rahul Gandhi has mastered the art of lying with great confidence,” Fadnavis said. The CM was responding to Rahul Gandhi's revelations in media about ruling BJP’s modus operandi to delete votes. Rahul has claimed that the Election Commission has overlooked the poll-rigging by BJP in the elections held in 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in state.

The office of the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Thursday said all available information with the Election Commission of India (ECI), regarding alleged attempts to delete 6,018 votes in the state's Aland constituency in the run up to 2023 assembly polls, has already been shared with Superintendent of Police, Kalaburagi.

Clarifying that the FIR in connection with the case was lodged by the Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), who function under the authority of ECI, it also said, CEO, Karnataka has been providing all assistance or information or documents to the investigating agency.

The CEO's statement is seen as a response to Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi's attack against the Election Commission, urging it to stop protecting "vote chors" and provide within a week information sought by the Karnataka CID, in an investigation into voter deletions.

"Based on the instructions given by ECI, the CEO, Karnataka has handed over to Superintendent of Police, Kalaburagi district on 06.09.2023 all the available information with ECI for completing the investigation," a note from the CEO office said.

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The Congress accused the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday of blocking the Karnataka CID's investigation into alleged voter deletions by refusing to release data, with Rahul Gandhi terming the poll body's response to his allegations as "excuses" and urging it to provide the information sought.

The EC dubbed as incorrect and baseless the allegations made by Gandhi that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar is protecting "vote chors" (vote thieves). No deletion can take place without giving an opportunity of being heard to the affected person, the poll panel asserted.

Gandhi accused Kumar of protecting "vote chors" and people who have destroyed democracy, and cited data from a Karnataka Assembly constituency to claim that votes of Congress supporters were being systematically deleted ahead of elections.

Later, after the EC's response to his allegations, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a post on X, "After our Aland candidate exposed the fraud, the local EC official filed an FIR, but the CID investigation has been -- BLOCKED by CEC. The Karnataka CID has written 18 letters in 18 months requesting all incriminating evidence -- BLOCKED by CEC." "The Karnataka EC has sent multiple requests to ECI to comply with the investigation -- BLOCKED by CEC. Details of destination IP, device ports, and OTP trails have been withheld -- BLOCKED by CEC," he alleged.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "revelation" that votes of party voters were being systematically deleted in a targeted manner, has exposed how Indian democracy is being subverted through systematic and centralised attempts at "Vote Chori" (vote theft).

He alleged that the BJP attempted "Vote Chori", and the Election Commission is blocking the investigation into it.

Earlier in the day, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting "vote chors" and people who have destroyed democracy, and cited data from Karnataka's Aland Assembly constituency to claim that votes of Congress supporters were being systematically deleted ahead of elections.

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Ajit Pawar-led NCP's Maharashtra president Sunil Tatkare on Thursday termed Rahul Gandhi's fresh allegations of 'vote theft' as "childish", and said voters were knowledgeable enough to understand the narrative being set by the Congress leader and the opposition INDIA bloc.

He said the Congress was levelling such charges as it was not able to digest its "huge defeat" in the November 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections.

Tatkare was addressing at a press conference a day before the NCP's 'Chintan Shibir ' in Nagpur that the party's top leaders and office-bearers are scheduled to attend.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting "vote chors" and people who have destroyed democracy, and cited data from a Karnataka assembly constituency to claim that votes of Congress supporters were being systematically deleted ahead of elections.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in Delhi that his revelations today were another milestone in demonstrating to the youth of this country how elections are being rigged.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's fresh allegations of irregularities in voters' list, including in an assembly segment in Maharashtra, triggered a war of words between the ruling and Opposition parties with the latter on Thursday demanding Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' resignation.

Opposition NCP (SP) said Gandhi's fresh allegations of irregularities in voters' list raised a question mark over the integrity of the Election Commission of India (ECI), and sought an independent inquiry by the poll body into the Congress MP's charges.

Accusing the ECI of acting with double standards, the Congress demanded CM Fadnavis' resignation, saying he had no moral right to continue in office after Gandhi exposed "vote theft" in the Rajura assembly constituency of Chandrapur district.

Taking forward his "vote theft" claims, Gandhi on Thursday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting those who "destroyed democracy" and cited data from a Karnataka assembly constituency to claim that votes of Congress supporters were being systematically deleted ahead of elections.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asked BJP workers in Bihar to counter the INDIA bloc's “false narrative” of vote theft by cautioning the people that rampant “infiltration is likely" if the opposition coalition comes to power.

The former BJP president tore into the Congress, RJD, and the Left combine while addressing a saffron party workers' conclave here, about 50 km from the state capital, weeks ahead of the assembly elections.

Shah asked the cadre to aim at “not just a simple victory but a massive two-thirds majority” in the upcoming polls to the 243-strong Bihar assembly.

Referring to the “Voter Adhikar Yatra” of Rahul Gandhi, which concluded last month, Shah alleged, "You (BJP workers) know what was its aim? It was to protect infiltrators from Bangladesh." "Should the infiltrators have the right to vote in our country? Should they have access to all the benefits that the citizens enjoy?," asked the home minister, evoking roars of a resounding "no" from the attendees.

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The BJP on Thursday claimed that Rahul Gandhi's repeated allegations against constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission showed his lack of faith in democracy, and accused him of trying to stoke chaos and create in India the kind of unrest seen in Nepal and Bangladesh.

Former Union minister Anurag Thakur said "infiltrators first politics" is the sole agenda of Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader may be speaking of the interests of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) but his bid to shield illegal voters by opposing the Election Commission's (EC's) review of electoral rolls will harm the interest of these communities.

The BJP's counterattack on Gandhi followed another presentation by him to the media, in which he sought to substantiate his allegation of "vote chori" against the poll watchdog.

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Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's press conference, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai said, "The Congress Party has lost the public's trust and today they have become limited and have no issues. They have become issueless. Whenever something happens in their favour, no one raises any questions, but when something happens against their favour, they raise questions... This is their culture."

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: On allegations made by Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Does Rahul Gandhi understand the Constitution? He went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court issued directions. Did he make a stake? He does not understand the law or the Supreme Court's directions. He only shouts 'Samvidhan, Samvidhan'... The main thing is clear; if Rahul Gandhi does not get votes, then what can we do? The nation will never forget his actions. He is the LoP. He should have some values... He is insulting the country's voters... The people will again give him a befitting reply. All his bombs will diffuse. He trusts no one... I condemn this..."

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: On Rahul Gandhi's fresh allegations of vote theft, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "Rahul Gandhi is left with negativity only. He lies all day... His language is like that of a defeated politician... Blaming so many people for his defeat. Had he admitted before the people that he was defeated, he would have worked better if given another chance and apologised. That would have been enough. But he is blaming everyone, ED, CBI, EC... Is anyone correct, other than the Gandhi family?... His language proves that he believes in cheap politics... How did they form a government in Karnataka?... How did you make a CM in Karnataka if the voters were unconstitutional? This means that the Karnataka government is also unconstitutional... First, he said he had proof that the EVM was hacked. Then where are those proofs? If the EVMs were hacked, then why was vote theft required? Now he stopped speaking on EVM... He is a liar and lost... We welcome the SIR in Delhi... Thousands of infiltrators from Delhi will be removed..."

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: Launching yet another scathing attack on the Election Commission of India, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi Thursday alleged irregularities in addition and deletion of votes in the country, saying someone has been systematically targeting millions of voters whose names have been deliberately removed from electoral rolls across constituencies.

During a special press briefing at the AICC Indira Bhawan headquarters in Delhi, Gandhi also accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting “vote chors” and those “killing democracy” in India.

Gandhi also said his revelations were another milestone in demonstrating to the youth of this country how the elections are being influenced. At the start of the press briefing, he said these were not part of the “hydrogen bomb” of revelations that he has promised, and which he said will come soon.

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Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: "Allegations made by Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi are incorrect and baseless. No Deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Rahul Gandhi. No deletion can take place without giving an opportunity of being heard to the affected person. In 2023, certain unsuccessful attempts were made for the deletion of electors in the Aland Assembly Constituency and an FIR was filed by the authority of ECI itself to investigate the matter. As per records, Aland Assembly Constituency was won by Subhadh Guttedar (BJP) in 2018 and BR Patil (INC) in 2023," Election Commission said in a post on X.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: On Rahul Gandhi's vote deletion allegations, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "It is an organised effort. It is very clear that the Election Commission is involved in this effort. And Rahul has very clearly exposed it..."

She further urged people to watch the LOP's press conference to understand what was happening in the country.

"I urge everyone to watch his (Rahul Gandhi) press conference because you should understand what is happening in our country. And the EC is colluding to destroy the electoral process and challenge democracy in our country. We need to fight for democracy, the Constitution and our country," she said.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: Reacting to the Leader of Opposition’s press conference, the Election Commission termed the allegations “incorrect and baseless”.

“No deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Shri Rahul Gandhi. No deletion can take place without giving an opportunity of being heard to the affected person. In 2023, certain unsuccessful attempts were made for deletions in Aland Assembly constituency and an FIR was filed by the authority of the ECI itself to investigate the matter. As per records, Aland Assembly constituency was won by Subhadh Guttedar (BJP) in 2018 and BR Patil (INC) in 2023,” the EC statement said.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: "Democracy can only be saved by people of India; the day they realise democracy, the Constitution is being stolen, the work will be done," said Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: "What I'm doing here is not my job. My job is to take part in democratic system. Not to protect them. It is of institutions to protect them. They aren't doing it," said Gandhi. "I can show the truth to the people. The Constitution is protector of the people and I'm protecting it," he added.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: "We have started getting help from within the ECI. From within, information is coming. This won't be stopped, and it can't be stopped. People of the country won't let this happen. Once people know vote chori, they won't let it happen," said Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: Gandhi said, "This deletion of votes done in centralised manner using software and not through individuals."

"Targeted deletion of votes done in Congress stronghold through planned action," he alleged.

He further said that Karnataka CID started an investigation into the matter, seeking details from EC on deletions done, but EC was not providing the details.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission of India was defending 'murderers' of democracy by not providing details of voter deletions.

He claimed that this was another example of 'vote chori' through deletion of votes, calling on the CEC to provide details of 'vote deletions' within a week.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: "Mass deletions of voters in K'taka, Maha, Haryana, UP; CEC needs to stop protecting people 'murdering' Indian democracy," claimed Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: "Our demand is that Gyanesh Kumar stop protecting people who are destroying Indian democracy. EC has to release the data of these phones, OTPs within a week. Otherwise, we will know for sure that Gyanesh Kumar is protecting those destroying Indian democracy," said Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: "Someone ran an automated program that ensured the first voter of the booth was the applicant... We are certain that it was done in a centralised way. The top 10 booths with maximum deletions were Congress booths," said Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: Rahul Gandhi said, “Some force systematically targeting millions of voters for deletion across India… Different communities mainly who were voting for the opposition, Dalits, Tribals, minorities, OBCs, are specifically targeted. We had heard this many times and now we found 100% proof of it”, says Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi."

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: Rahul Gandhi said, "Aland is a constituency in Karnataka. Somebody tried to delete 6018 votes. We don't know the total number of votes that were deleted in Aland in the 2023 election. They are much higher than 6,018, but somebody got caught deleting those 6018 votes, and it was caught by coincidence. What happened was that the booth-level officer there noted that her uncle's vote was deleted, so she checked who deleted her uncle's vote, and she found that it was a neighbour who deleted the vote. She asked her neighbour, but they said I did not delete any vote. Neither the person deleting the vote nor the person whose vote was deleted knew. Some other force hijacked the process and deleted the vote..."

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, "First of all, this is not the H-bomb, the H-bomb is coming. This is another milestone in setting up and demonstrating to the youth of this country how elections are being rigged."

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference Live Updates: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his press conference said, “I’m going to make a claim here. Very strong one. About CEC Gyanesh Kumar. I’m saying this as LOP. I’m going to show proof which is black and white that CEC is protecting people who have destroyed Indian democracy”.