Priyanka Chaturvedi Accuses ECI of Arbitrary Voter Deletions

Chaturvedi’s criticism follows revelations that 13 crore names have been placed under scrutiny nationwide. The lawmaker expressed frustration over the burden placed on ordinary citizens, noting that even her own family was required to appear in person to verify their citizenship status. She argued that while document verification is not inherently objectionable, the pervasive climate of suspicion surrounding the process is entirely unjustified.

The controversy gained momentum after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi visited Delhi’s Bela Estate, where he claimed 727 out of 728 registered voters had been struck from the list. Gandhi described the purge as a form of vote theft, noting that the residents had participated in both the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2025 Delhi elections. Despite Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s acknowledgement that homelessness does not disqualify one from voting, residents are being systematically removed from the rolls. Chaturvedi maintains that the Commission’s actions undermine public trust, forcing citizens into queues to prove their right to exist within the electoral system.