Karnataka CEO Challenges Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Fraud Allegations, Demands Written Declaration
The response comes hours after Gandhi, accused the ECI of colluding with the BJP to manipulate voter lists, particularly in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment.
BENGALURU- The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka has issued a sharp rebuttal to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of electoral fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, demanding a signed declaration and specific details of the claimed irregularities under oath.
The response comes hours after Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to manipulate voter lists, particularly in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment.
During a press conference in New Delhi on August 7, Gandhi alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes in the Bangalore Central constituency, citing discrepancies such as 11,965 duplicate voters, 40,009 voters with fake or invalid addresses, 10,452 bulk voters at single addresses, 4,132 voters with invalid photos, and 33,692 voters misusing Form 6 for new voter registrations in Mahadevapura.
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He claimed these irregularities enabled the BJP to secure a victory in the constituency despite Congress’s strong performance in other areas, stating, “Elections are choreographed… Our internal polling predicted 16 seats for Congress in Karnataka, but we won only nine.”
In a strongly worded letter issued on the same day, the Karnataka CEO challenged Gandhi to substantiate his claims by providing a signed declaration under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The letter stated, “You had mentioned the inclusion of ineligible electors and exclusion of eligible electors in the Electoral Rolls. You are kindly requested to sign and return the enclosed Declaration/Oath along with the name(s) of such elector(s) so that necessary proceedings can be initiated.”
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The declaration requires Gandhi to affirm that his allegations are true to the best of his knowledge and warns that false declarations are punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and Section 227 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The CEO’s office emphasized the transparency of the electoral process, noting that draft and final electoral rolls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were shared with all recognized political parties, including the Indian National Congress (INC). “During the Special Summary Revision-2024, about 9.17 lakh claims and objections were received and addressed. No appeals were filed by the INC with District Magistrates or the CEO regarding wrongful additions or deletions,” CEO stated, refuting Gandhi’s claims of systemic fraud.
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The Election Commission also highlighted that election results can only be legally challenged through an Election Petition before the High Court, a step Gandhi has not taken. The ECI further noted that Gandhi has not responded to a June 12 letter inviting him to discuss similar allegations of rigging in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, questioning the credibility of his claims.
The BJP, meanwhile, dismissed Gandhi’s allegations as “baseless.” Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad remarked, “It has become Rahul Gandhi’s habit to make baseless allegations, face defamation cases, and then apologise. His claims in Karnataka are completely bogus.” The party plans to stage a counter-demonstration in Bengaluru on August 8 to protest Congress’s accusations against the ECI.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar supported Gandhi’s claims, stating that similar irregularities were uncovered in the Bengaluru Rural constituency. “I have initiated an investigation and will address the issue in detail later,” he said.
Congress has announced plans for a protest in Bengaluru on August 8, where Gandhi is expected to submit a representation to EC officials.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny on the ECI, with Gandhi alleging a broader pattern of electoral manipulation, citing unexpected BJP victories in states like Haryana and Madhya Pradesh despite anti-incumbency trends.
The ECI, however, maintains that its processes are robust and transparent, urging Gandhi to provide concrete evidence or face legal consequences for misleading claims. As the standoff escalates, all eyes are on whether Gandhi will submit the requested declaration, potentially setting the stage for a legal battle over the integrity of India’s electoral process.
