"EC Demands Apology or Signature: Rahul Gandhi's '5 Questions' Dismissed"
In a bold move, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of electoral malpractices, particularly regarding "vote chori" (vote theft), during a press conference and subsequent rally.
During the event, Gandhi posed five specific questions to the ECI, challenging their integrity and transparency. He questioned the lack of a digital voter list, the erasure of CCTV and video evidence, instances of fake voting and tampering with the voter list, threats and intimidation of opposition leaders, and whether the ECI has become an agent of the BJP.
Gandhi's allegations stem from anomalies he has observed in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, including "one crore mystery voters," destruction of CCTV footage, thousands of fake voters, and refusal by the ECI to share voter-related data.
However, the ECI has dismissed these allegations as "misleading." In response to Gandhi's post, the ECI has challenged him to either sign a formal declaration on the issues he raised or apologize to the nation. The ECI has explained that CCTV footage is retained only if an election petition is filed in court, and reviewing footage from all polling stations would be impractical and serve no legal purpose otherwise.
Interestingly, Gandhi has stated that his public statements and data presentations constitute his word as an oath, resisting the Commission's demand for a signed affidavit. It is important to note that Gandhi has not signed any declaration or oath as per Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, regarding the allegations he has made against the EC.
In the past, an advocate from the AICC has written to the EC regarding some of Gandhi's allegations, and the EC's response can be found on their website. The EC has also rejected the Indian National Congress's plea for providing a machine-readable voter list, as per the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Kamal Nath vs ECI, 2019.
It is worth mentioning that during the preparation of the Electoral Roll for LS-2024, hardly any appeals were filed by the INC across all 36 States & UTs under Section 24 of the RP Act 1950.
Any aggrieved candidate can file an election petition (EP) to challenge his election in the concerned High Court within 45 days. If an EP is filed, CCTV footage is retained; otherwise, it serves no purpose unless someone intends to breach voter privacy.
The ECI's response to Gandhi's allegations has sparked a nationwide debate, with many questioning the transparency and impartiality of the poll body. The Congress party, for its part, has maintained its stance, vowing to continue fighting for electoral reforms and transparency.
[1] Times of India: Rahul Gandhi accuses Election Commission of India of electoral malpractices, challenges ECI to prove him wrong [2] Indian Express: Rahul Gandhi's five-point challenge to ECI: Why isn't the opposition getting the digital voter list? What are you hiding? [3] NDTV: Rahul Gandhi refuses to sign affidavit on ECI allegations, says his word is his oath [4] Hindustan Times: Rahul Gandhi alleges irregularities in Maharashtra, Karnataka, demands transparency from ECI [5] CNN-News18: Rahul Gandhi asks ECI questions about bias, tampering, and shielding the ruling party in a post on X
- The debate surrounding the Election Commission of India's (ECI) transparency and impartiality has intensified, with allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about electoral malpractices, particularly in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, receiving widespread media coverage in outlets such as the Times of India and CNN-News18.
- Gandhi's allegations against the ECI, encompassing issues like "one crore mystery voters," destruction of CCTV footage, threats and intimidation of opposition leaders, and refusal to share voter-related data, have led to calls for policy-and-legislation changes to ensure fair elections, a topic often discussed in the realm of politics and general news.
- The ongoing saga between Gandhi and the ECI has also shed light on the crime-and-justice system, as the ECI's responses and Gandhi's refusal to sign affidavits have sparked reactions from various parties, with many questioning the fairness of the process and the role of the election commission in such matters.
