Election Commission Challenges Rahul Gandhi to Verify Vote Theft Claims

The Election Commission of India has formally challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to substantiate his allegations of electoral fraud following his claims of irregularities in the recent elections. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) requested that Gandhi sign an affidavit detailing his assertions regarding the unlawful addition and deletion of voters in the electoral rolls.

In a letter addressed to Gandhi, the CEO specified, “It is understood that during a press conference held today, you mentioned the inclusion of ineligible electors and exclusion of eligible electors in the electoral rolls.” The letter urged Gandhi to complete and return a Declaration/Oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, along with the names of the alleged affected electors, to facilitate necessary investigations.

Claims of Choreographed Elections

During the press conference, Gandhi described the electoral process as “choreographed” and presented findings from his party’s research pertaining to the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka. He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a “vote chori” (vote theft) involving approximately 100,250 votes.

The Mahadevapura constituency was highlighted as a critical seat, with Gandhi asserting that its loss was pivotal to the overall election outcome. “Our internal polling predicted 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. Mahadevapura was the only Vidhan Sabha segment we lost—and it cost us the entire seat,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of this constituency in the broader election landscape.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the total votes cast in Mahadevapura amounted to 626,000, with the BJP securing 658,915 votes against Congress’s 115,586. The winning margin for the BJP stood at 32,707 votes, signifying the seat’s crucial role in determining the BJP’s success.

Allegations of Voter Fraud

Gandhi’s accusations of electoral misconduct included claims of duplicate entries, fraudulent addresses, mass registrations at single residences, misuse of Form 6, and invalid photographs. He cited a specific instance where a residence had between 50 to 60 voters registered, although only one family resided there.

As the political landscape in Karnataka continues to evolve, the Congress party remains vigilant in addressing these allegations, seeking transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Gandhi’s call for scrutiny reflects ongoing tensions between the Congress and the BJP, particularly as both parties prepare for future elections.

The Election Commission’s demand for evidence from Gandhi underscores the seriousness of electoral integrity in India. As this situation develops, both parties will likely engage in extensive dialogue regarding the electoral process and the legitimacy of the recent elections.