Affidavit or Apology? EC Warns Rahul Gandhi
CEC demands oath for allegations or deems them baseless.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar issued a stern ultimatum to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, demanding he submit a declaration under oath within seven days to substantiate his allegations of voter list irregularities, or his claims of "vote theft" will be dismissed as baseless. Speaking at a press conference, Kumar emphasized that complaints about electoral rolls from non-voters of a constituency require an affidavit, challenging Gandhi’s refusal to comply.
On July 31, Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged at a press conference that over 1 lakh votes were "stolen" in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura assembly segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls through manipulations like duplicate voters, fake addresses, and single-address voter clusters. He extended similar accusations to other states, sparking a heated confrontation with the Election Commission. Chief electoral officers from multiple states had previously requested Gandhi to file an affidavit, which he has declined.
"If Gandhi doesn’t provide a sworn declaration within seven days, his claims will be considered invalid," Kumar stated, adding that those making unsubstantiated allegations owe the nation an apology. He dismissed the accusations with a quip: “The sun doesn’t rise in the west just because someone claims it.” Kumar stressed that neither the Election Commission nor voters are intimidated by allegations of double voting or electoral fraud, asserting the integrity of the electoral process.
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The controversy intensified as Gandhi, speaking at the launch of his 1,300 km 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Sasaram, Bihar, accused the Election Commission of bias. He claimed that while he was asked to submit an affidavit for exposing "vote chori," BJP leaders faced no such scrutiny for their press conference claims. The yatra, backed by the INDIA bloc, aims to rally public support against alleged voter list manipulations through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, with Gandhi framing it as a fight to protect the Constitution and democratic rights.
The Election Commission’s challenge comes amid escalating tensions, with the opposition alleging systemic electoral fraud to favor the BJP. Kumar questioned whether the EC should issue notices to 1.5 lakh voters based on unverified claims, urging accountability from accusers. The yatra, covering over 20 Bihar districts and concluding in Patna on September 1, has drawn leaders like Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, who echo Gandhi’s concerns about electoral integrity.
As the deadline looms, Gandhi’s refusal to comply could weaken the opposition’s narrative, while the Election Commission seeks to uphold its credibility. The clash underscores deeper political divides, with the INDIA bloc intensifying its campaign to safeguard Bihar’s electoral process ahead of the assembly polls.
Also Read: Rahul: BJP, EC Plot to Steal Bihar
