Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has alleged large-scale irregularities in the Karnataka electoral rolls, prompting a strong rebuttal from the Election Commission. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka, has responded by formally asking Gandhi to provide specific names and submit claims through a signed affidavit under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
In a press conference held on August 7, Rahul Gandhi claimed that ineligible voters have been included and eligible voters excluded from the voter lists in Karnataka. He accused the Election Commission of failing to maintain the sanctity of the democratic process.
Reacting to the allegations, the Election Commission stated that the rolls have been prepared transparently as per the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. In an official letter to Rahul Gandhi, the CEO’s office noted that both draft and final rolls were duly shared with the Indian National Congress (INC) in November 2024 and January 2025 respectively. Despite this, the INC reportedly filed no first- or second-level appeals regarding discrepancies in the voter list.
Rahul Shivshankar Tweets Gandhi’s Bold Response
As the row intensified, journalist Rahul Shivshankar tweeted details of the EC’s request and Gandhi’s reply. According to the tweet, the EC asked Gandhi to make a formal submission in a sworn affidavit. Gandhi’s response: “I am a politician. I don’t lie to the people. Every word I speak in public is on oath.”
Meeting Between INC and CEO Scheduled
The letter from the CEO’s office confirmed that a meeting between an INC delegation and the Chief Electoral Officer has been scheduled between 1 PM to 3 PM on August 8. The CEO reiterated that further action can only be taken upon submission of detailed evidence regarding the alleged irregularities.
The electoral dispute is likely to escalate further unless concrete evidence is presented. Political observers believe the outcome of this confrontation could influence the political discourse in Karnataka ahead of future polls.
