ECI again asks Rahul Gandhi to submit evidence of irregularity in Karnataka Assembly election under oath

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (August 9, 2025) again asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to submit under oath the allegations made by him on voter roll manipulation in a Karnataka Assembly Constituency.

Either Mr. Gandhi should give a declaration/oath, or apologise to the country, sources in the ECI said.

Mr. Gandhi had in a press conference on Thursday claimed that 1,00,250 “fake votes” were created in the Mahadevapura Assembly seat under the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka, in order to ensure a win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Following this, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer had issued a letter to the Congress leader, asking him to submit evidence under oath under Rule 20 (3) (b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

The Rule says: “The registration officer shall hold a summary inquiry into every claim or objection in respect of which notice has been given under Rule 19 and shall record his decision thereon.”

“The registration officer may in his discretion (a) require any claimant, objector or person objected to, to appear in person before him; (b) require that the evidence tendered by any person shall be given on oath and administer an oath for the purpose,” it also says.

Experts on electoral law have, however, said the rule quoted by the ECI was not applicable in this context as a complaint under it had to be filed within 30 days of publication of electoral rolls.