The Election Commission of India (ECI) has responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations. Rahul Gandhi had accused the Election Commission of not cooperating with the investigation into voter list omissions in Karnataka and refusing to share data. However, senior sources within the Election Commission dismissed these allegations, stating that all necessary information had already been provided to the Karnataka CID and police.
According to Commission sources, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka had acted on 21 February 2023, registering a FIR related to fraudulent applications in the 46-Aland Assembly Constituency. Out of the 6,018 applications received in Form-7, only 24 were found to be genuine, while 5,994 were bogus. These false applications were thereby rejected.
The Election Commission reported that the FIR (number 26/2023) was lodged with the Aland Police Station in the Kalaburagi district on 21 February 2023. Additionally, all relevant information, including objectors' names, EPIC numbers, mobile details, IT methods, IP addresses, submission times and dates, and login credentials, had been handed over to SP Kalaburagi on 06 September 2023.
Sources noted that CEO Karnataka held meetings with police and cyber experts to review investigational progress and continuously provided necessary documentation and technical assistance to the probing agency. Thus, the Commission refuted Rahul Gandhi's claims, stating no obstruction had been placed in the investigation, and all vital information had already been shared.
Allegations Against Chief Election Officer
It’s noteworthy that Rahul Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting vote thieves and those undermining democracy. He pointed out data from the Karnataka constituency, stating that Congress supporters’ votes were systematically deleted before the election.
He further mentioned that, over 18 months, the Karnataka CID had contacted the Election Commission 18 times without receiving any response. Rahul Gandhi stated, "Gyanesh Kumar Ji is shielding the vote thieves. This is clear-cut evidence, with no ambiguity."
Following the Election Commission's response, he posted on X, "After our Aland candidate exposed the fraud, the local election official lodged an FIR, yet CEC halted the CID investigation. Karnataka CID has sought evidence through 18 letters over the past 18 months, all stalled by the CEC."
He charged, "The Karnataka Election Commission has sent numerous requests to the Election Commission for compliance with the investigation, yet is being obstructed by the Chief Election Commissioner. Details of IP addresses, device ports, and OTP trails are withheld. Without catching this vote theft, removing 6,018 votes would risk Congress candidates losing the election. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stop making excuses. Hand over the evidence to Karnataka CID. Now."
