Give affidavit in 7 days or apologise: Poll body ultimatum to Rahul Gandhi on 'vote chori'

In a sharp response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” allegation, the Election Commission of India on Sunday gave him a seven-day deadline to either submit an affidavit with evidence or issue a public apology, stating that in the absence of proof, all such charges are false.

“An affidavit will have to be given or an apology will have to be made to the country. There is no third option. If the affidavit is not received within 7 days, it means that all these allegations are baseless,” Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said while addressing a press meet in New Delhi this afternoon.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Election Commission rejected as baseless the allegations of double voting and "vote theft" and asserted that all stakeholders are working to make Special Intensive Revision (SIR) a success in a transparent manner.

Furthermore, while



calling Gandhi’s remarks an “insult to the Constitution,” the commission said terms like “vote chori” undermine democratic institutions. Kumar also accused political parties of using the Election Commission as a platform to target voters for political gain.

“When politics is being done by targeting the voters of India by keeping a gun on the shoulder of the Election Commission, today the Election Commission wants to make it clear to everyone that the Election Commission fearlessly stood like a rock with all the voters of all sections and all religions including the poor, rich, elderly, women, youth without any discrimination, is standing and will continue to stand,” Kumar said.

Responding to claims of double voting, Kumar added that while some voters had raised concerns, no evidence was provided. “Neither the Election Commission nor the voters of India are afraid of such false allegations,” he said.