CEC Challenges Rahul Gandhi on Poll Rigging Allegations
New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday issued a strong ultimatum to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, asking him to back his allegations of “vote chori” in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with a sworn affidavit within seven days or withdraw them publicly.
Addressing his first press conference since taking charge six months ago, Kumar said Gandhi must file a signed declaration under electoral laws to substantiate his accusations of voter fraud in Bihar and Karnataka.
“Give an affidavit or apologise to the nation. There is no third option. If an affidavit is not submitted within seven days, all allegations will be considered baseless,” the CEC said, flanked by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Kumar accused some political leaders of “firing from the shoulders of the Election Commission” by spreading misinformation. He stressed that the Commission cannot act on PowerPoint presentations or unverified claims.
Gandhi’s ‘Vote Chori’ Campaign in Bihar
The ultimatum came on the same day Gandhi launched the “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, where opposition parties have alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Gandhi earlier claimed that more than one lakh votes were “stolen” in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura constituency through duplicate voter entries and fake residential addresses. His campaign has repeatedly accused the Commission of ignoring serious irregularities that allegedly benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“If one thinks that by making a PPT presentation with wrong facts, the ECI will act, that is not the case. The EC cannot act without an affidavit in such a serious matter, as it would be against the law and the Constitution,” Kumar clarified.
The CEC acknowledged that voter duplication exists but insisted it does not automatically mean illegal voting. He said over three lakh discrepancies have already been corrected under the SIR process.
EC Defends Voter Roll Revision
Rejecting claims that the roll revision was rushed, Kumar said it was the Commission’s “legal duty” to update electoral lists before every election. He urged political parties to submit corrections to Bihar’s draft rolls before September 1.
“The names deleted under the SIR are already listed on district websites, in line with Supreme Court orders,” Kumar said. He emphasized that the Commission does not discriminate between ruling and opposition parties, calling suggestions otherwise “a lie repeated to look like truth.”
On opposition demands for machine-readable digital rolls, Kumar pointed to a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that prohibited them to safeguard voter privacy. He added that the existing searchable lists on the EC’s website already allow easy access without breaching privacy rights.
“The Election Commission will remain steadfast like a rock with voters of all classes, without bothering about politics,” Kumar said, dismissing the “vote chori” charges as baseless unless supported with legal proof.
Opposition Hits Back at CEC
Shortly after Kumar’s 85-minute press conference, the Congress accused the CEC of evading critical questions raised by Gandhi. Party leaders described the press briefing as “a monologue” and rejected the assertion that the Commission treats the ruling and opposition parties equally.
“The CEC answered none of the questions raised meaningfully. His claim of neutrality is laughable,” a senior Congress spokesperson said. Several opposition leaders echoed the criticism, accusing the Commission of shielding the government.
The war of words has set the stage for a heated political battle as Gandhi’s seven-day deadline nears. Whether he files an affidavit or escalates his campaign could shape the next phase of the opposition’s challenge to the Election Commission.