In response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s assertions of a “massive electoral scam,” Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has formally requested him to file a sworn declaration supporting his claims of “vote theft.” The CEO also asked for a list of allegedly wrongly enrolled voters to initiate further legal action.
Similar notices were sent by the CEOs of Maharashtra and Haryana, following Gandhi’s claims of duplicate and erroneous entries in the electoral registers of these states. The Uttar Pradesh CEO dismissed Gandhi’s claim that two Bengaluru-based voters were also listed in UP rolls.
The Election Commission (EC) posted on X, urging Gandhi to submit an affidavit under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to the Karnataka CEO by evening. The EC added that if he cannot back his statements, he should refrain from making baseless claims and confusing the public.
At a press event in New Delhi, Gandhi alleged that over 1 lakh fake votes were cast in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment, part of Bangalore Central, during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said a Congress audit team found bogus entries involving fake addresses, invalid photos, or duplicate registrations.
Karnataka CEO V Anbukkumar emphasized the transparency of voter roll preparation and said any disputes should be addressed through election petitions filed in court.
The Congress is scheduled to meet the Karnataka CEO to present a memorandum. Meanwhile, EC officials stated that Gandhi’s accusations reinforce the need for the current Special Revision of electoral rolls.