Karnataka CEO sends notice to Rahul Gandhi, asks him to furnish evidence of alleged vote fraud

In a press conference last week, Rahul alleged over a lakh votes were stolen with fake addresses, duplicate entries and bulk registrations of voters in a single address in the Mahadevapura constituency of Karnataka in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The CEO has categorically referred to Rahul's claim that one Shakun Rani, 70, had cast her vote twice in the elections as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) data.

"You are kindly requested to provide the relevant documents on the basis of which you have concluded that Shakun Rani or anyone else has voted twice, so that a detailed inquiry can be undertaken by this office," the CEO said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Rahul last week gave a presentation to the media alleging how BJP had stolen votes in some constituencies to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"Narendra Modi is now the Prime Minister because of 25 Lok Sabha seats where votes were stolen," the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition said and added, "While majority of the seats are showing competitions, BJP is just sweeping some of the seats."

Following the allegations, the ECI asked Rahul to send the details of the voters whom he think were wrongly included or excluded along with a signed oath for each case.

Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Congress-ruled Karnataka, has said the state's law department will probe into the allegations and recommend legal action.

The Congress has also launched a website votechori.in for the campaign against the Modi government.

Hitting out at Rahul, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell head Amit Malviya wrote on X, "It would be best if Rahul Gandhi submitted, under Declaration/Oath, proof of all the allegations he has made — allegations already comprehensively debunked by media and social media. If he fails to do so, it will be clear that the aim is not meaningful reform, but rather to manufacture a spectre of misinformation and feed the cameras.

"This is nothing new. From Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, the Nehru–Gandhi parivar has a long history of accusing the Election Commission of partisanship whenever faced with rejection. Rahul Gandhi, a far less accomplished political legatee, is no exception."