The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a firm ultimatum to Rahul Gandhi, demanding that he either provide a signed affidavit to support his claims of "vote theft" or issue a public apology within seven days. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, in his first press conference since assuming office, addressed the allegations made by Gandhi regarding irregularities in electoral rolls, particularly in the context of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Gandhi had accused the ECI of aiding the BJP by manipulating voter lists, including the registration of fake voters and other malpractices. He specifically pointed to a survey in Karnataka that allegedly revealed multiple irregularities, such as the same voter appearing multiple times in rolls or in different states, non-existent addresses, bulk voters at a single address, indistinguishable photos on voter IDs, and misuse of Form 6 for first-time voters. Gandhi also claimed that over one lakh fake votes were registered to help the BJP win the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 elections.
The ECI has vehemently denied these allegations, demanding that Gandhi provide evidence to support his claims. CEC Gyanesh Kumar stated that if an affidavit is not received within the stipulated seven days, the allegations will be considered baseless and invalid. He further asserted that those making unfounded allegations should apologize to the nation. The ECI has also refuted claims of bias, with Kumar shifting responsibility for voter list accuracy to those who compile them. The commission also clarified that it will investigate the allegations only if proper procedures are followed.
The CEC also addressed concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, stating that it is the only way to correct discrepancies in the voter lists. He acknowledged that there could be errors in the electoral rolls but emphasized that a person's presence in multiple voter lists does not automatically imply multiple voting. Kumar also rejected demands to publish a machine-readable voter list and CCTV footage of the voting process, citing voter privacy concerns.
In response to the ECI's ultimatum, the Congress party has accused the commission of "blatant partisanship". Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the ECI's demand for an affidavit or apology was a diversion from addressing the key questions raised by Gandhi. The Congress maintains that an investigation into the allegations is necessary, rather than demands for apologies or affidavits. Gandhi himself has questioned why the ECI is demanding an affidavit from him while not requiring the same from BJP leaders who have made similar claims. He also raised concerns about the 2023 law that shields election commissioners from legal cases.
The ECI's stance is that it is committed to safeguarding the voting rights of every citizen and that it takes every possible step to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The commission has accused Gandhi of using "dirty phrases" and attempting to mislead voters, which it considers an insult to the Indian Constitution. The ECI insists that it will stand firm in its duty to ensure fair elections and protect voters from misinformation.
