Bengaluru / New Delhi — August 7, 2025 — Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, has made explosive allegations of electoral malpractice in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, claiming that 1,00,250 voters were “stolen”. He accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to act and called for a thorough investigation.
What Did Rahul Gandhi Claim?
Rahul Gandhi highlighted discrepancies in the voter list of Mahadevapura, alleging an influx of ineligible or duplicate entries. In his words:
“Out of 6.5 lakh votes in Mahadevapura assembly seat… there was ‘vote chori’ of over 1 lakh votes.”
“We converted the full constituency voter list into digital format over six months, uncovering systematic manipulation such as the same person registered at multiple addresses—including a beer bar—and duplicate registrations across states.”
The Economic TimesThe Economic TimesHindustan Times
He asserted, “This is Election Commission data, and they have not denied it—they know the truth.”
ECI Response & Legal Proceedings
The Karnataka Election Commission has requested Rahul Gandhi to submit a formal declaration backing his allegation and to provide the names of allegedly wrongfully enrolled electors, so proper proceedings may follow.
The Times of India
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has labeled such claims as “baseless”, urging its officials to remain impartial and uphold transparency.
The Times of India
Political Fallout
These allegations add to the strident discourse over vote integrity in Karnataka and Maharashtra, where similar claims have surfaced. In Karnataka, Congress is leading protests against electoral irregularities, particularly in Bengaluru.
The Times of India+1
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah previously stated that Rahul Gandhi possesses “100% concrete proof” of vote theft and planned to present it to the ECI.
National Herald
Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Constituency | Mahadevapura, Karnataka |
| Allegation | 1,00,250 voter theft |
| Evidence Claimed | Digitized voter rolls, repeated registrations, bizarre addresses |
| EC’s Action | ECI has asked for proof; called allegations baseless |
| Political Context | Escalates national debate on vote integrity |
