Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has launched a strongly worded appeal to India’s Gen Z, urging them—and the country’s students and youth—to take up the mantle of defending the Constitution, protecting democracy, and stopping what he calls “vote theft.” His remarks, delivered via social media and a press briefing, have sparked intense backlash from the BJP and raised questions about electoral integrity in key states.
Key Allegations
At a press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi alleged mass irregularities in the electoral rolls in both Karnataka and Maharashtra.
- In Aland, Karnataka, he claimed 6,018 deletion applications were submitted online in December 2022 through apps such as NVSP, VHA, and GARUDA, using mobile phones registered outside the district/state. Of these, only 24 were accepted; the rest were rejected as invalid.
- In Rajura (Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district), Gandhi alleged that 6,850 fake voters were added to the rolls. Some names, he claimed, were nonsensical strings like “UQjjw” and addresses like “Sasti” repeated multiple times.
- He also said that the Karnataka CID had written 18 letters over 18 months to the Election Commission asking for data (like OTP trails, IP addresses, destination ports) but had received no satisfactory replies.
Gen Z Shoutout
In the evening of 18th Sept. 2025 , Rahul Gandhi posted on X:
“The country’s youth, the country’s students, the country’s Gen Z will save the Constitution, protect democracy, and stop vote theft. I will always stand with them.”
He invoked recent youth-led protests in Nepal, where Gen Z played a central role in toppling the government, as a point of comparison.
Election Commission & BJP Response
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) categorically rejected Gandhi’s allegations as “incorrect and baseless.” It emphasized that no deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public without due process. ECI also noted that an FIR was filed in the Aland case in 2023, and that the constituency was won by Congress candidate B.R. Patil.
- BJP leaders reacted sharply:
- MP Nishikant Dubey dismissed Gandhi’s claims and asked why, if Gen Z is anti-corruption and anti-dynasty, they would tolerate Gandhi’s family’s long political lineage. He warned Gandhi to "prepare to leave the country" if youth anger boiled over.
- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the nation will not believe Rahul Gandhi and accused him of trying to undermine the democratic process.
- Other BJP figures called the vote-theft accusations baseless, dangerous, and an attempt to sow unrest.
Implications & Analysis
- Gandhi’s framing of the issue around Gen Z raises the stakes: this cohort is often seen as digitally native, socially aware, and willing to mobilize — a potentially powerful force in India’s political future.
- The references to Nepal suggest Gandhi is trying to draw symbolic parallels of youth protest movements across South Asia. BJP counters that these are alarmist and intended to stir dissent.
- The timing comes ahead of several state elections and increasing public scrutiny over the process of electoral roll revision (Special Intensive Revision) and the credibility of the Election Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What did Rahul Gandhi say to Gen Z?
Rahul Gandhi appealed to India’s Gen Z and students on September 18, 2025, to “save the Constitution, protect democracy and stop vote theft,” following allegations of mass voter deletions.
Q2. What are Rahul Gandhi’s allegations about vote theft?
He claimed that over 6,000 voters were illegally deleted in Karnataka’s Aland constituency using centralized software, and alleged fake voters were added in Maharashtra’s Rajura constituency.
Q3. How did the Election Commission respond?
The Election Commission dismissed the allegations as “incorrect and baseless,” stating that no votes can be deleted online by the public and citing that Congress itself won the Aland seat in 2023.
Q4. Why did Rahul Gandhi reference Gen Z in Nepal?
He pointed to the Nepalese Gen Z protests in September 2025, where youth activists toppled Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s government, to emphasize the political power of youth movements.
Q5. How did the BJP react to Gandhi’s statement?
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of trying to create “Nepal-style chaos.” They argued that Gen Z rejects dynastic politics and corruption, and instead supports PM Modi’s vision.
Q6. What is the political significance of this controversy?
The clash highlights the growing importance of Gen Z voters in shaping India’s democracy. Both BJP and Congress are attempting to capture youth sentiment ahead of upcoming elections.
Q7. Has voter deletion been proven?
So far, no independent evidence has been produced to substantiate Gandhi’s claims. The EC maintains that the process of voter roll revision is transparent and subject to checks and balances.
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