Congress rejects ECI’s affidavit demand over Rahul Gandhi’s poll rigging allegations

The Congress party has rejected the Election Commission of India’s directive demanding Rahul Gandhi submit an affidavit to substantiate his allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The grand old party is pressing for a thorough investigation into the electoral process

Bengaluru: The Congress party has rejected the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) directive asking Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to submit an affidavit to substantiate his allegations of large-scale voter fraud. The standoff between Gandhi and the poll panel has now escalated into a political flashpoint.

Rahul Gandhi had alleged that massive electoral malpractice occurred during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, claiming that in the Mahadevapura assembly segment alone, over one lakh fake voters were detected. On August 8, the Congress held a major protest in Bengaluru against voter fraud and submitted a complaint to the ECI. In response, the Commission issued a sharp rebuttal, daring Gandhi to either file an affidavit to back his claims or withdraw the allegations and publicly apologise.

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Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar dismissed the ECI’s demand, stating that legal experts found the directive irrelevant and inapplicable to the petition the party had submitted. IT Minister Priyank Kharge echoed the sentiment, calling the Commission’s move a form of intimidation rather than due process.

Mansoor Ali Khan, the Congress candidate for the Bengaluru Central constituency, criticised the ECI for refusing to act despite Gandhi presenting documentary evidence. “Instead of addressing the problem, they are burdening us with an affidavit requirement, as if we are responsible for protecting the system,” Khan said, adding that the integrity of the voters’ list and the election process itself are at stake.

Supreme Court advocate and former legal advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Brijesh Kalappa, questioned the legality of the ECI’s directive. “The ECI is not a court to demand records or affidavits. The Representation of the People Act does not grant them such powers. This instruction is weak, defensive, and exposes the misuse of authority under BJP influence,” Kalappa said.

Congress leaders maintain that the Commission must focus on safeguarding democracy and restoring public trust rather than issuing procedural challenges. The party continues to demand a thorough investigation to ensure every vote in Bengaluru is genuine and the electoral process remains free, fair, and transparent.