In a surprising turn of events, Rahul Gandhi's claims of widespread voter fraud in Karnataka during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have been publicly contradicted by a minister from the Congress government in the state. This internal disagreement has provided ammunition for the opposition BJP, who are calling it a "tight slap" to the Congress leader's allegations.

The controversy stems from Rahul Gandhi's assertions of "vote theft" in the Mahadevapura assembly segment of Bangalore Central. Gandhi alleged that over one lakh votes were stolen through fraudulent means, implicating the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the BJP in the scheme. He specifically pointed to instances of duplicate voter IDs and fake addresses.

However, Karnataka's Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna has publicly countered Gandhi's claims. Rajanna stated that the alleged irregularities occurred when their own government was in power and that the party should take responsibility for the voter list issues. "One should remember that voter lists were revised when our own government was at the helm. Why did our party turn a blind eye then?" Rajanna questioned. He further added, "It is true that there are irregularities, but it is insulting for us that it happened right under our nose".

The ECI has also challenged Rahul Gandhi's claims, demanding that he provide concrete proof to support his allegations. The poll panel rejected his assertion of fake voting proof and accused him of faking poll data. The ECI specifically addressed Gandhi's claim about a Bengaluru voter, Shakun Rani, who he alleged voted twice. The Election Commission countered that their probe revealed the document shown by Rahul was fake and that Shakun Rani herself stated she only voted once. The Karnataka CEO has officially requested Rahul Gandhi to share the source of his information, clarifying that the documents he presented were not issued by the Election Commission. The ECI has even stated that if Gandhi's claims are proven false, it could lead to a punishable offense with a potential prison sentence.

Adding another layer to the controversy, the owner of a property in Mahadevapura, which Gandhi claimed housed 80 registered voters in a small room, has refuted the Congress leader's statement. Jayaram Reddy, the property owner, stated that Gandhi was "confused" and clarified that his tenants were migrant laborers with temporary stays who used rental agreements to obtain voter IDs but did not necessarily vote at that address.

The BJP has seized upon the internal discord within the Congress party. Shehzad Poonawalla, a BJP spokesperson, stated that a Congress leader and Karnataka minister had fact-checked Rahul Gandhi. Former Mahadevapura MLA Aravind Limbavali urged Gandhi to "open his eyes," as members of his own party were contradicting his claims.

Despite these challenges, the Karnataka government, under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has decided to use ballot papers for upcoming local elections, citing concerns about electoral roll anomalies and EVM credibility. This decision appears to be influenced by Rahul Gandhi's "vote-theft" campaign.

Meanwhile, a recent study by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority (KMEA) found that a majority of respondents in Karnataka believe that elections in India are conducted freely and fairly and that EVMs deliver accurate results. This report further complicates the narrative surrounding the allegations of voter fraud.

The confrontation between Rahul Gandhi and his own party member in Karnataka highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls of making broad allegations about electoral integrity without solid proof. The situation continues to unfold, with the ECI awaiting a response from Gandhi and the political landscape in Karnataka heating up.