The Election Commission of India (ECI) has once again demanded that Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the opposition, either sign a declaration supporting his allegations of vote theft or apologize for making what it terms "false" and "absurd" claims. This renewed call comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding Gandhi's accusations of electoral irregularities in at least three states.
Gandhi's allegations, which he has vociferously presented, accuse the ECI and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of colluding to manipulate voter rolls and engage in "vote chori". He has specifically pointed to discrepancies in voter turnout and voter lists in Maharashtra and Karnataka as evidence of these irregularities. Gandhi claims that in some constituencies, the number of new voters added exceeded the actual population, and that a significant number of these new voters were registered at addresses linked to BJP leaders.
The ECI has strongly refuted these claims, labeling them as a repetition of old, baseless accusations. The commission has challenged Gandhi to provide concrete evidence to support his allegations, demanding a signed declaration as per the Conduct of Election Rules. This declaration would require Gandhi to formally verify the information he has presented.
However, Gandhi has refused to sign any declaration, asserting that he has already taken an oath to uphold the Constitution as a Member of Parliament and that his public statements should be taken as his word. He has also accused the ECI of failing to provide requested data, such as voter lists and CCTV footage, which he claims would further substantiate his allegations.
The ECI has countered Gandhi's refusal by stating that his unwillingness to sign the declaration implies that he does not believe in his own analysis and is making unfounded accusations. The commission has also clarified that during the preparation of electoral rolls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party filed hardly any appeals regarding alleged discrepancies across all states and union territories.
The controversy has drawn reactions from other political figures as well. Sharad Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), claimed that individuals had approached him before the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, offering to secure victory in 160 seats. While Pawar stated that he and Gandhi dismissed the offer, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis questioned the timing of Pawar's disclosure, suggesting it was intended to support Gandhi's narrative. Fadnavis also criticized Gandhi for not providing the affidavit requested by the ECI, suggesting he fears potential legal repercussions if his claims are proven false.
Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has also dismissed Gandhi's allegations as "baseless and childish," asserting that they insult the voters of Maharashtra. He questioned why Congress workers did not raise objections when the voter lists were published ahead of the elections.
The ECI's demand for a signed declaration or apology is rooted in Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, which pertains to objections related to the electoral roll. The commission maintains that Gandhi's allegations are unsubstantiated and misleading to the public.
