What Election Commission said in response to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of large scale rigging in voter lists
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged large scale rigging in the voter list during the elections. He gave a presentation during a press conference on Thursday.
Rahul Gandhi claimed that many times more voters were added in Maharashtra in just five months than in five years. He said that in some areas the number of voters was more than the entire population.
Rahul Gandhi said, "Our alliance in Maharashtra, which had won a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections, lost the assembly elections held a few months later, which was very suspicious."
1 crore new voters were added between LS and assembly polls: Rahul
Rahul said, "In Maharashtra we found that 1 crore new voters were added between the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. We went to the Election Commission on this issue, our leaders held a press conference, but no answer was given."
Rahul alleged that the Election Commission refused to give him the voter list.
He said, "We had appealed to provide the voter list of Maharashtra in machine-readable format, but the Election Commission rejected our plea. Machine-readable format is important because we need a soft copy to analyse the data."
He has also alleged irregularities in the voter list in Karnataka, citing the voter list of a Lok Sabha seat in Bengaluru.
ECI terms Rahul's allegations as misleading
The Election Commission of India has termed Rahul Gandhi's allegations as misleading. The Commission has said that he should give his complaint in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka has also written a letter to Rahul Gandhi.
In paragraph 3 of this letter, it is written, "Voter lists were made available to the Congress in November 2024 and in January 2025."
It is written in it, "It is known that in a press conference held today, you (Rahul Gandhi) mentioned the inclusion of ineligible voters and exclusion of eligible voters in the voter list."
"You are requested to send the names of such voters by signing the attached declaration/affidavit under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Voter Registration Rules, 1960 so that necessary action can be initiated."
It is also said in this letter, "Karnataka Congress had sought time to meet the Chief Election Officer. After this, the time from 1 pm to 3 pm on August 8 was confirmed."
"The voter list is prepared in a transparent manner as per the instructions issued by the Central Election Commission."
It is written in the letter that as far as the election process is concerned, it can be challenged in the High Court through an election petition.