Affidavit Or Apology: Election Commission's 7-Day Ultimatum To Rahul Gandhi

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar hardened his stance today regarding Rahul Gandhi's "vote theft" allegations, saying noting less than an affidavit on the matter or apology to the country will do. He has been given seven days to take either course of action. 

"An affidavit will have to be given or an apology will have to be made to the country," Mr Kumar said. "There is no third option. If the affidavit is not received within seven days, it means that all these allegations are baseless," he added. 

Mr Gandhi's allegations that the Election Commission is actively helping the BJP by inflating electoral rolls with fake voters in multiple ways and other malpractices has sparked a huge row. 

He has alleged that a survey in Karnataka has found that six main irregularities were at play - same voter appearing multiple times in rolls, same voter in multiple states, non-existent addresses, bulk voters at a single address, indistinguishable photo on voter IDs and misuse of Form 6 for first-time voters.

Earlier today, he launched a 1,300-km 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Bihar's Sasaram to step up the Opposition INDIA bloc's campaign against "Vote theft". 

On the occasion, he said there is a "new conspiracy" to "steal" polls by deleting and adding voters through SIR or special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The Election Commission has repeatedly denied the allegations and has been demanding that he submit an affidavit to back the allegations. The Commission has also fact-checked a video posted by the Congress, alleging that it was AI-generated and is meant to "mislead the voters of Bihar".

"Electoral Rolls for each Assembly Constituency of Bihar are being prepared as per law and with full transparency," the Commission said in a post on social media.

The matter is pending in the Supreme Court which has asked the Commission to accept Aadhaar from anyone challenging the dropping of their names from the electoral rolls. 

The Commission has struck off 65 lakh names from its draft list, contending that they include people who have died, moved or are voters in multiple places.