Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Election Commission over the exclusion of 727 voters from the electoral roll in Delhi’s Bela Estate.
Gandhi raised the issue after visiting the settlement along the Yamuna. He also spoke to the local sub-divisional magistrate about the voter-list changes.
According to Gandhi, 728 people live in the area. He said only one name remained on the voter list after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). He described the exclusions as an example of what he calls “vote chori”.
The issue has added to the ongoing political dispute between the Congress and the Election Commission over the revision of electoral rolls.
Gandhi Questions Removal of Voter Names
Gandhi said the affected residents had lived in Bela Estate for several years. He also claimed that many of them had voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and the 2025 Delhi Assembly election.
He said the residents’ homes were demolished in 2023. However, according to his account, they continued to live in the same locality.
During his visit, Gandhi questioned why the voters were removed from the electoral roll. He also referred to the provision allowing homeless voters to use “House Number 0” when registering.
“Having a house or not has no connection to the right to vote,” Gandhi said while questioning the basis for the exclusions.
Election Commission Explains the Exclusions
The Election Commission has provided a different explanation for the voter-list changes.
According to the ECI, most of the affected electors had registered addresses listed as agricultural land. Only a small number had specific house numbers.
The Commission said agricultural activity in the area stopped in 2021. It also said that existing dwelling units were demolished during 2022-23.
As a result, the physical and residential status of the area changed, the ECI said. Booth-level officers therefore placed the affected electors on the ASDD list. ASDD refers to electors classified as absent, shifted, dead or duplicate.
The Commission said the classification followed instructions issued for the SIR process.
ECI Says Voters Can Apply Again
The Election Commission has also pointed to the claims and objections process.
It said eligible voters whose names are missing from the draft electoral roll can apply for inclusion through Form 6.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s Delhi website currently provides details about the SIR draft roll and the ASDD list. It also allows voters to check whether their names appear in the draft roll.
The ECI has extended the period for filing claims and objections in Delhi until October 30, according to its clarification reported by NDTV.
The Commission has therefore maintained that exclusion from the draft roll does not permanently prevent an eligible person from seeking inclusion.
Bela Estate Row Adds to Wider SIR Debate
The Bela Estate case comes amid a wider controversy over the SIR exercise.
Congress and several other opposition parties have raised concerns about voter exclusions during the revision. They have demanded greater transparency from the Election Commission.
Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the issue. He has also called for greater accountability from the poll panel.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has defended its procedures. It has said that electoral-roll revision follows established rules and that eligible voters have opportunities to seek inclusion.
Congress Calls the Issue ‘Vote Chori’
Gandhi has used the phrase “vote chori” while describing the Bela Estate case.
He said the removal of names affects people who have limited resources and could affect their ability to participate in elections.
Congress leaders have backed Gandhi’s criticism. Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said Gandhi was highlighting concerns about the Election Commission and the wider electoral system.
However, the description of the exclusions as “vote theft” is a political allegation. The Election Commission has attributed the changes to the altered residential status of the area and its SIR procedures.
Legal and Political Pressure on Election Commission
The Bela Estate controversy comes at a time when the Election Commission faces wider political and legal scrutiny.
Opposition parties have questioned the SIR process and decisions taken by the poll panel. Congress has also demanded action against Gyanesh Kumar.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to consider a separate plea questioning aspects of the Election Commission’s decision-making process.
The court has not established any wrongdoing by the CEC or the Election Commission in the Bela Estate matter.
Voter Claims Process Remains Open
The Election Commission has stressed that eligible electors can seek inclusion in the electoral roll.
The Delhi CEO website lists the SIR draft roll, the ASDD list and details of notices issued to voters. It also provides forms for new enrolment, corrections and changes of residence.
For Bela Estate residents, the immediate issue is therefore whether affected voters meet the legal requirements for inclusion and whether they submit the required documents during the claims process.
Debate Over Bela Estate Voters Continues
The dispute over the 727 Bela Estate voters has added a fresh point of contention to the SIR debate.
Rahul Gandhi says the exclusions show that eligible voters are losing their voting rights. The Election Commission says the names were moved to the ASDD list because the registered residential locations had changed after demolition.
The two sides therefore offer different explanations for the same voter-list changes.
For now, the claims and objections process remains available to eligible voters. Meanwhile, the Bela Estate controversy is likely to remain part of the wider political debate over electoral-roll revisions in Delhi.