EC Counters Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Theft’ Charge in Bihar, Calls Viral Video Claim “False”

Patna: A fresh political storm erupted on Tuesday after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission (EC) of large-scale voter deletions in Bihar, citing a viral video of a man named Subodh Kumar. In the clip, Kumar claimed his name had been removed from the electoral rolls.

Sharing the video on X, Gandhi alleged this was part of a wider “vote chori” conspiracy. “What has happened with Subodh Kumar ji is happening with lakhs of people in Bihar. Vote theft is an attack on Bharat Mata, and the people of Bihar will not allow this to happen,” he wrote.

But the Election Commission hit back swiftly, terming the allegation “baseless and false.” Officials clarified that Subodh Kumar’s name had never appeared in the electoral roll to begin with. According to the Nawada district administration, Kumar’s name was not present in either the current roll or the list of deletions.

Authorities said he was present at his polling station when the draft voter list was displayed, signed the attendance register, and was even photographed there. They added that he had failed to submit Form-6 or the mandatory Annexure-D declaration during the revision process, making him ineligible for inclusion. The EC further noted that Kumar had not filed any formal claim or objection after the 2025 draft rolls were published.

Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer stated on X: “If Subodh Kumar submits Form-6 with the necessary declaration as per rules, his name will be included in the electoral roll.”

This is not the first time the poll body has clashed with Gandhi on voter rolls. Earlier, he amplified the case of a woman, Ranju Devi, who alleged her family’s names were struck off. However, Devi later withdrew her complaint, admitting she had been misled. The EC confirmed that all her family members were listed as voters.

Gandhi, who is leading a ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ across Bihar, has repeatedly accused the government and the EC of disenfranchising voters ahead of state elections. The Commission, however, insists the revision exercise is essential since it was overdue for two decades. It says the clean-up aims to remove duplicate entries and ineligible voters, while ensuring legitimate citizens are added.