The clash between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and the Election Commission of India (ECI) escalated on Friday, as Gandhi pushed back against the poll body’s demand for a signed declaration to support his voter fraud claims.
Responding in Bengaluru, Rahul Gandhi said, “The Election Commission demands an affidavit from me. It says that I must take an oath. I have already taken the oath of the Constitution in Parliament.”
Gandhi alleged a “huge criminal fraud” in the electoral process, claiming that the BJP and the poll panel are colluding. He accused the ECI of attempting to suppress evidence.
EC Demands Proof or Apology
Sources in the Election Commission said that if Gandhi stands by his claims, he should have no problem signing the official declaration required under electoral rules. If he refuses, they argued, he should apologise for making what they called “absurd allegations.”
The poll panel also asked Gandhi to submit the names of electors who were wrongfully added or removed from voter rolls in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
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Chief electoral officers in three states, including Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, have asked Gandhi to provide details of the alleged discrepancies. They requested names and signed declarations to initiate an inquiry.
Gandhi, however, turned the spotlight on the Election Commission itself, claiming that its websites in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar have gone offline. “Today, when the people of the country are asking questions about our data, the Election Commission has shut down its website,” he said. “The Election Commission knows that if the public starts questioning them, their entire structure will collapse.”
Rahul Gandhi Cites ‘Criminal Evidence’
The Leader of Opposition claimed that the Congress has uncovered hard evidence of what he called “vote chori” across India.
Citing one Karnataka constituency, he claimed 1,00,250 votes were tampered with. He listed the breakdown as follows:
- 11,965 duplicate voters
- 40,009 voters with fake or invalid addresses
- 10,452 single address or bulk voters
- 4,132 voters with invalid photographs
- 33,692 voters misusing Form 6 for new registrations
Gandhi alleged that this model is being used widely across other states as well.
He also called for judicial intervention, saying, “The judiciary needs to get involved in this because the democracy that we love so much, does not exist anymore.”
ECI Rejects Claims, Questions Motive
ECI sources challenged Gandhi’s remarks, saying his refusal to file the required documents casts doubt on his allegations. They asserted that election procedures include legal mechanisms to address voter list grievances, and Gandhi should utilise them.
According to the ECI, Gandhi’s claims could mislead the public and discredit the democratic process without a factual basis. They warned that if no specific names are submitted, no action can be taken.
The controversy continues as the EC maintains it will not act without formal documentation, while Gandhi insists his constitutional oath is sufficient.
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