Karnataka Election Chief Requests Evidence From Rahul Gandhi Regarding Allegations of Double Voting, Insists on Submission of Relevant Documents
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegation of a woman named Shakun Rani voting twice during the elections in Karnataka's Mahadevapura Assembly segment of Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency has been met with scrutiny.
At a press conference, Gandhi presented tick-marked documents that he claimed were from polling officers, suggesting that Shakun Rani had voted twice in the 2024 elections [1][2][3]. However, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)'s office conducted a preliminary investigation, which revealed that the document shown by Gandhi was not an official polling officer’s document. Additionally, Shakun Rani herself denied the claim, asserting that she had voted only once [1][3][4].
In response, the CEO formally asked Gandhi to provide the original documents or other evidence supporting his assertion so that a detailed inquiry could be undertaken [1][2][3][5]. As of the information available, there is no public record or confirmation that Gandhi submitted such evidence following the CEO’s request.
In the midst of this, Gandhi accused the Election Commission of withholding data as a sign of "collusion" with the BJP in committing "electoral fraud" [6]. He demanded the Election Commission provide the electronic voters' list for the past 10 years along with video recordings, warning that if they did not, irregularities would be uncovered [7].
The Election Commission, however, stated that Shakun Rani voted only once during the election [8]. The CEO also stated that a detailed inquiry can be undertaken by the office based on the provided documents [9].
Gandhi further stated that irregularities can be uncovered in 15 to 20 Lok Sabha seats and that they already have the information to do so [7]. In response to the repeated allegations, Shakun Rani has publicly expressed distress and denied any wrongdoing [4].
The notice issued by the CEO was addressed to Gandhi regarding the voting allegations made by him [10]. The CEO also requested Gandhi to provide relevant documents for further investigation into the voting twice allegation [11]. Gandhi stated that if the Election Commission attacks the "One Man, One Vote" right enshrined in the Indian Constitution, they will attack the Election Commission [12].
In conclusion, the claim of Shakun Rani voting twice remains unsubstantiated officially, and the electoral authorities have challenged the validity of the evidence presented by Gandhi. The case is currently under investigation, and the public awaits further developments.
The ongoing controversy surrounding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations of double voting by a woman, Shakun Rani, in the Karnataka elections has escalated into a political issue, as it involves policy-and-legislation and general-news. The Karnataka CEO's office has questioned the authenticity of the evidence presented by Gandhi, and no public record indicates he has provided further evidence as requested [1][2][3][5]. The matter is under investigation and continues to be a subject of intense politics, as Gandhi accuses electoral authorities of collusion with the BJP and withholding data [6][7].
