ECI vs. Rahul Gandhi
The Bihar Voter List Controversy
65 Lakh
Voters Deleted from Bihar Roll
7-Day
Ultimatum for Proof or Apology
Aug 19
Deadline for Re-inclusion Claims
The ECI's Position & Actions
Following a Supreme Court directive, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is taking steps to ensure transparency regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Voter List Publication
A searchable, district-wise list of the 65 lakh deleted voters is being published online. Each deletion includes a specific reason, such as death, migration, or duplication, to provide clarity to the public.
Rebuttal to Allegations
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has condemned Rahul Gandhi's "vote chori" (vote theft) allegations as baseless and an "insult to the Constitution." The ECI maintains its impartiality and asserts it stands with voters, not political parties.
Demand for Evidence
The ECI has issued a firm ultimatum: provide a formal, sworn affidavit with concrete evidence within seven days, or issue a public apology. The commission states that accusations must be supported by official evidence.
The Allegations & Criticism
The controversy escalated with the launch of Rahul Gandhi's "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar, where he raised serious allegations against the ECI and the voter list revision process.
Claims of Manipulation
Gandhi accused the ECI of collaborating with the ruling party to manipulate voter lists. He cited examples of duplicate names and fake addresses as evidence of a conspiracy to disenfranchise poor and marginalized communities.
"Vote Chori" Campaign
The term "vote chori" has become the centerpiece of the campaign, framing the issue as a deliberate theft of democratic rights. This narrative challenges the integrity of the electoral process and the ECI's role as a neutral arbiter.
Call for Transparency
The core demand from the opposition is greater transparency and accountability from the ECI, arguing that technical glitches are an insufficient explanation for the large-scale removal of voters from the rolls.
Sequence of Events
Supreme Court Directive
The Supreme Court orders the ECI to publish the list of 65 lakh deleted voters with reasons for transparency.
"Voter Adhikar Yatra" Begins
Rahul Gandhi launches his yatra in Bihar, making public allegations of "vote chori" and voter list manipulation.
ECI Issues Ultimatum
The ECI demands Rahul Gandhi provide a sworn affidavit with proof of his claims within 7 days or issue a public apology.
Upcoming Deadlines
Aug 19: Deadline for voters to file claims. Aug 22: ECI to submit compliance report to the Supreme Court.
Breakdown of Deleted Voters
This chart shows the official reasons provided for the 65 lakh voter deletions from the Bihar electoral roll. Interact with the chart to see details for each category.
