The Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, addressed the allegations made by Rahul Gandhi regarding vote manipulation. During a press conference, Kumar stated that Gandhi must either submit an affidavit or apologize to the nation. He added that if this is not done within a week, the accusations will be dismissed as baseless. The Election Commission had asked Gandhi for an affidavit after his accusations, but he refused, maintaining that his statements were public and part of his role as a Member of Parliament. Kumar insisted that repeating something does not make it true. He underscored that a sworn statement is required within seven days, or the allegations will be considered false. Kumar said the commission could not act on such serious matters without an affidavit, because it would be against the constitution.
Kumar also said that names of valid voters would not be removed without proper evidence. He added that the commission could not address serious issues without an affidavit. Regarding the lack of investigation, Kumar said that 150,000 notices were issued without any evidence or an affidavit. The Chief Election Commissioner said, “We stand like a rock with the voters…” He also re-emphasized that an affidavit or an apology to the country must be given. He added that the commission has been working with diligence for 75 years and that if they are facing accusations, they must seek evidence, which they have not received. He clarified that no valid voter’s name will be removed without proof. Concerning Rahul Gandhi’s claims of match-fixing in Maharashtra, Kumar addressed the irregularities. He asked why claims and objections weren’t filed when the draft list was available. Kumar also responded that the election commission received no names of voters with supporting evidence. He further noted that the elections took place eight months ago. The commission had also responded to questions about the voting process, indicating that with 10 hours of voting, the average voting percentage per hour is 10%.