Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday lashed out at the Election Commission of India (ECI) for asking her brother, Rahul Gandhi, to submit an affidavit regarding his recent allegations of large-scale voter fraud in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Priyanka accused the Election Commission of prioritizing bureaucracy over transparency, and questioned its reluctance to investigate the matter.

Citing electoral rules, she said a petition challenging election results must be filed within 30 days, and asked why the ECI was suddenly requesting an affidavit beyond this period. “There has been a major revelation. Even if it was unintentional, shouldn’t the Election Commission investigate it? Why are you not releasing the voter list or probing the allegations?” she asked. “Instead, you’re asking for an affidavit. What bigger oath do you want than what we take in Parliament?”

Priyanka reiterated that Congress’s data is already public, pointing to claims of 40,000 fake votes and warning that adding even 1 lakh fake votes in a single Assembly constituency can manipulate results in favor of any party. She emphasized that the issue transcends party politics and strikes at the core of Indian democracy.

Addressing BJP’s dismissive responses and the Election Commission’s insistence on affidavits, she said, “If you accuse someone of cheating, should a teacher slap you or check the exam sheet? Instead of probing, they’re abusing Rahul Gandhi and demanding legal declarations. If the government is not complicit, why not order a fair investigation?”

She also responded to the State Election Commission’s assertion that Rahul Gandhi’s claims were baseless, challenging, “How can they say it’s false without even investigating?”

The controversy erupted after Rahul Gandhi claimed that over 1,00,000 fake votes were found in Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Karnataka’s Bangalore Central constituency, alleging this manipulation ensured a BJP win. The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) responded with a sharply worded letter asking Gandhi to sign an affidavit under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, along with specific names of fake or missing voters. Similarly, the Maharashtra CEO asked Gandhi to submit a sworn affidavit to support his “vote theft” claims in the 2024 state elections.

Priyanka concluded by echoing her brother’s warning: “This isn’t just about the Congress. Those who undermine democracy will one day be held accountable, regardless of who is in power.”