The Election Commission of India (ECI)‘s prompt response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asking him to submit his complaint regarding voter roll manipulation in an Assembly constituency in Karnataka “under oath” is infructuous in this situation, according to Electoral Law experts.
The experts opine that the rule quoted by the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer and subsequently CEOs of Maharashtra and Haryana asking the Leader of the Opposition to submit his complaint and evidence regarding it under an oath or declaration has no application to the present case and is valid only if any complaint is filed within 30 days of the publication of draft Electoral Rolls before elections.
Also read: Congress protest over ‘vote theft’ in Karnataka updates
Mr. Gandhi claimed in a press conference on Friday (August 7, 2025) 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 BJP.
Following this, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer had issued a letter to the Congress leader asking him to submit the evidence under oath under Rule 20 (3) (b) of the Registration of Electors Rules 1960.
