New Delhi: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka Thursday demanded a formal declaration from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to support his allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) in the context of the Mahadevapura Assembly seat.
The action followed claims made by Gandhi during a press conference, where he alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to “steal” elections. He referred to the Mahadevapura seat, alleging duplicate voters, invalid addresses and bulk voters leading to a ‘vote chori’ of more than 1 lakh votes.
The letter written by CEO, Karnataka, to Gandhi now asks the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition to sign an oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, along with names of such electors. This rule requires the registration officer to hold a summary inquiry in every claim and objection pertaining to an electoral roll, and says that the officer may require that evidence tendered by any person be given on oath.
The oath template, seen by ThePrint, requires Gandhi to state on oath that “I, Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament, do hereby solemnly affirm and state on oath that the statement I am about to make under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 … is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.”
It adds, “I am aware that making a false declaration in connection with electoral rolls is punishable under Section 31 of the RP Act, 1950. I also understand that giving false evidence is punishable under Sections 227 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.”
Section 31 of the Representation of People Act, 1950 talks about the punishment if any person makes a statement in writing, “which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true” in connection with the preparation, revision or correction of an electoral roll, or the inclusion or exclusion of any entry in or from an electoral roll.
Such a person can be punished with yearlong imprisonment or fine or both.
Section 227 describes what amounts to giving false evidence.
On Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, a source in the EC told ThePrint, “(he should) either sign under Rule 20(3)(b) or stop misleading the people of India and stop making baseless allegations against the Election Commission.”
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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