EC Asks Rahul Gandhi to Submit Oath, Proof for ‘Vote Chori’ Claim in Karnataka, Maharashtra
New Delhi: A political storm has erupted after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission (EC) of colluding with the BJP to “steal elections” in multiple states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra. In response, the Election Commission has formally asked Gandhi to submit a signed declaration and oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, along with specific names of electors allegedly fraudulently included in the voter lists.
What the Election Commission Demands
The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) wrote to Rahul Gandhi on Thursday requesting:
- A signed Declaration/Oath under electoral rules
- Names and details of allegedly fraudulent or duplicate electors
- Supporting evidence, as per the rules outlined under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
The letter also cautioned that false declarations could be punishable under Section 31 of the RPA and Section 227 of BNS.
A similar request was later sent by the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Office, asking Gandhi to provide concrete data for his allegations of voter list manipulation in that state.
Rahul Gandhi’s Response: “This is Their Data”
Reacting to the EC’s demand, Rahul Gandhi maintained his stance and said during a press briefing:
“I’m saying it publicly. Take it as an oath. This is not our data — this is Election Commission data. They haven’t denied it. They haven’t said the voter list I showed is wrong.”
He questioned the EC’s silence on the alleged anomalies and dared the body to deny the voter data used in his presentation. “If you know it’s false, then say so. Why don’t you? Because you know we caught you,” he added.
ALSO READ| Rahul Gandhi Alleges Voter Fraud in Karnataka
Allegations of Voter Fraud
Gandhi’s allegations stem from an internal Congress investigation into the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Karnataka, where he claims over 1 lakh votes were “stolen” using methods like:
- Duplicate voter entries
- Invalid or fake addresses
- Voters registered at a single address in bulk
- Untraceable individuals with no physical residence
- Misuse of Form 6 for first-time voters
He further claimed similar malpractice was evident in Maharashtra, where over 1 crore new voters were added in a span of just five months — an abnormal spike compared to previous years.
Election Petition Period Over
The Karnataka CEO clarified that the window to challenge the 2024 Lok Sabha election results has closed, stating that any dispute must now be addressed via formal legal petitions in the High Court. The EC reiterated that the electoral rolls were prepared transparently in compliance with electoral law.
Political Fallout and Polarization
The BJP, led by spokespersons Sambit Patra and Amit Malviya, dismissed Gandhi’s claims as baseless and defamatory. Malviya noted that not a single formal complaint was submitted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, even with over 60,000 Booth Level Agents from opposition parties on the ground.
ALSO READ| Rahul Gandhi’s Voter List Allegations Trigger Political Storm: BJP Dismisses, CPI Supports
Meanwhile, CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar supported Gandhi, saying the EC is “not a holy cow” and accused it of bias and shielding the ruling BJP.
With the EC demanding proof and formal declarations, all eyes are on whether Rahul Gandhi will submit the signed affidavit or stand by his public assertion as sufficient. The issue has once again raised serious questions about electoral transparency, democratic institutions, and political accountability in India.
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