‘Vote Chori’ Claim Denied By Election Commission, Rahul Gandhi Asked To Sign Affidavit

Rahul Gandhi recently made claims of election manipulation, focusing on a case involving a 70-year-old woman named Shakun Rani. He alleged that she was registered twice as a voter within two months using Form 6, which is meant for first-time voters. Gandhi questioned whether Rani herself voted or if someone else did in her name, citing the lack of CCTV footage as evidence.

The Election Commission (EC) has refuted these allegations, stating that their inquiry found Shakun Rani only voted once. They also clarified that the document Gandhi presented, showing tick marks by a polling booth officer, was not issued by any official. The EC has requested Gandhi to provide documents supporting his claims for further investigation.

Claims and Counterclaims

During an INDIA bloc meeting, Gandhi accused the BJP and the Election Commission of colluding to manipulate elections. He claimed his party sought digital voter lists and CCTV footage from the EC but received no response. Instead, they conducted their own investigation using RTI requests to gather data.

The BJP has defended the EC and criticized Gandhi for tarnishing a constitutional body’s reputation. Amit Malviya from the BJP challenged Gandhi to submit names of ineligible voters under oath as per Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Malviya stated that failing to do so would expose Gandhi's actions as mere political theatrics.

Political Reactions

The controversy arose during discussions about electoral roll revisions in Bihar and alleged vote theft models involving the BJP and EC. The opposition bloc plans to march from Parliament House Complex to the Election Commission's office in Delhi on Monday. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will host a dinner for MPs of the INDIA bloc on the same day.

The EC had earlier asked Gandhi to either substantiate his allegations under oath or apologize publicly. They dismissed his claims as "distorted and baseless" and warned that not signing a declaration would imply disbelief in his own analysis.

Gandhi's presentation included accusations of "huge criminal fraud" in elections through alleged collusion between the BJP and EC. This has intensified efforts by the opposition alliance to present a united front against what they describe as large-scale rigging in polls.

The ongoing dispute highlights tensions between political parties over electoral integrity in India. As both sides continue to exchange accusations, public attention remains focused on ensuring fair election processes across the country.