The Election Commission of India (EC) has issued a firm ultimatum to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi: either substantiate his “vote chori” allegations with a signed affidavit or issue a public apology. According to Mint, the directive comes after a series of notices from state Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) challenging Gandhi to formally attest to his claims.
Demand for Formal Accountability
The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer had first asked Gandhi to provide a sworn declaration naming eligible voters allegedly excluded and ineligible voters allegedly included in the electoral rolls. The move followed Gandhi’s high-profile remarks accusing the EC of failing to address large-scale irregularities.
CEOs in Maharashtra and Haryana later echoed the demand, calling on Gandhi to place his allegations on record under oath before further steps are taken.
The Allegations
In his original statements, Gandhi alleged that in Bangalore’s Mahadevapura constituency alone, more than 100,000 votes were “stolen” through duplicate entries, fake addresses, and bulk registrations. He claimed these findings were backed by Congress party data and accused the EC of avoiding direct engagement with the evidence.
EC’s Position
The EC has dismissed the allegations as “absurd” unless supported by verifiable proof. It maintains that such serious charges about electoral integrity must be backed by concrete, sworn evidence rather than public statements.
Political Reactions
Congress leaders view the EC’s demand as part of a larger political tussle, while Gandhi has argued that he already took an oath to uphold the Constitution in Parliament. He has urged the EC to release complete electronic voter lists and videography records from polling stations to ensure transparency.
The standoff highlights a growing clash between opposition parties and the poll body over election credibility, with the “vote chori” row becoming a flashpoint ahead of future electoral battles.
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