EC vs Rahul Gandhi: Submit declaration on ‘vote chori’ claim, poll body writes to Congress MP; asks for proof | India News
NEW DELHI: The Karnataka Election Commission on Thursday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to submit a formal declaration supporting his “vote chori”(vote theft) claim, along with the names of electors allegedly wrongfully included in the voter list, in order to initiate necessary proceedings.Karnataka chief electoral officer (CEO) is expecting the signed Declaration and Oath from Rahul Gandhi by today evening, sources told TOI. Asserting that the electoral rolls were prepared in a transparent manner, the Karnataka poll body said: “Election results can be questioned only by way of election petition before the Hon’ble high court”.“You are kindly requested to sign and return the enclosed Declaration/Oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, along with the name(s) of such elector(s) so that necessary proceedings can be initiated,” Karnataka chief electoral officer wrote in a letter to Rahul Gandhi.The attached declaration form with the letter says submitting false evidence is punishable under Section 227 of BNS, and also that making a false declaration in connection with the electoral roll is punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act 1950.The Karnataka CEO also said that the election of MPs in Karnataka cannot be challenged now as the election petition window is over.Rahul Gandhi on Thursday questioned the fairness of recent elections, alleging large-scale voter fraud and accusing the Election Commission of acting in favour of the BJP.“The Election Commission colluded with the BJP to steal the elections in Maharashtra,” he claimed at a press briefing.Referring to the recent polls in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi said the results in Maharashtra confirmed the INDIA bloc’s long-standing suspicion of electoral malpractice.
