ECI criticizes Rahul Gandhi’s claims on poll body being compromised, calls it ‘absurd’
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has criticised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for his recent remarks made during his visit to the US about the poll body being ‘compromised.’
The commission has described the Congress leader’s comments as "completely absurd" and "an affront to the rule of law."
Speaking at a public event in Boston on Sunday, Gandhi claimed that 65 lakh votes were cast in just two hours from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm during the polls, calling it "physically impossible." He also said that when Congress demanded videographic evidence of the polling process, the Commission allegedly changed the law to deny access.
Responding to these accusations, ECI sources clarified that during the Maharashtra elections, 6,40,87,588 crore voters turned out between 7 am and 6 pm, averaging 58 lakh votes per hour. Based on these average trends, 116 lakh people could have voted in the last two hours, making the figure of 65 lakh votes in that timeframe not unusual. The Commission also pointed out that polling takes place in front of officially appointed polling agents from all political parties, including the Congress, and no objections about irregular voting were raised by their agents during the official scrutiny the next day.
The ECI also highlighted that the electoral rolls in Maharashtra were prepared according to the Representation of People Act, 1950 and related rules.
The final rolls were shared with all political parties, and only 89 appeals were filed out of nearly 9,77,90,752 registered voters none of which came from the Congress party. Additionally, over one lakh booth-level agents were appointed by parties, including over 27,000 by the Congress, ECI sources said.
The Commission stated that all relevant clarifications had already been shared with the Congress party in December 2024.
ECI sources also expressed concern stating, “It appears that all these facts are completely being ignored while raising such issues again and again.”
It also pointed out that spreading such misinformation disrespects not only the legal process but also the thousands of party representatives and election staff who ensure fair elections in India.
Gandhi during the public event in the US on April 19, claimed that the EC is compromised and that there were serious flaws in the electoral system. "It is very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, and it is very clear that something is wrong with the system. I have said this multiple times," he stated.
He asserted that more people casted their votes in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections than there were adults in the state.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
