Is There Really 'Vote Theft' in Aland? Karnataka CEO Responds
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Synopsis
Explore the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged 'voter fraud' in Aland, Karnataka, as the Chief Electoral Officer responds to accusations from Rahul Gandhi, shedding light on the transparency and integrity of the electoral process in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer clarifies information shared with CID.
- Allegations of 'voter fraud' raised by Rahul Gandhi.
- Only 24 out of 6,018 applications were found genuine.
- FIR was lodged on February 21, 2023.
- Commitment to transparency in electoral processes.
Bengaluru, Sep 18 (NationPress) In response to allegations of 'voter fraud' in the Aland Assembly seat made by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka has provided clarification. He stated that all pertinent information held by the Election Commission of India (ECI), including mobile numbers, was shared with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) through the Superintendent of Police in Kalaburagi on September 6, 2023.
V. Anbu Kumar, the Chief Electoral Officer, affirmed on Thursday: "Following directives from the ECI, the CEO of Karnataka submitted all relevant information to the Superintendent of Police in Kalaburagi on September 6, 2023, to aid in the investigation. The information provided includes details of objectors, such as 'Form Reference Number', the name of the 'Objector', their Electors' Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number, and the mobile number used for log-in, as well as the mobile number supplied by the 'Objector' for processing, software application medium, IP address, location of the applicant, date and time of form submission, and user creation date."
The CEO's statement also noted: "After delivering the requested information, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka held meetings with the investigating officer and Cyber Security experts from the police to assess the investigation's progress."
Moreover, the CEO has been consistently providing further assistance, information, and documents to the investigating agency, underlining the commitment to transparency.
"An FIR was filed by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) under the ECI's authority on February 21, 2023, and the information was shared on September 6, 2023," he stated.
He added: "The ERO for Aland received 6,018 applications in Form-7, which were submitted online via various applications like NVSP, VHA, GARUDA, during December 2022. Due to the suspicious nature of such a high volume of online applications for deleting electors' names in the Aland assembly constituency, a thorough verification of each application was conducted by ERO, AERO, and BLOs."
"Only 24 applications were deemed genuine, while 5,994 were found to be invalid. Consequently, 24 applications were accepted, and the remaining 5,994 were rejected and not deleted. Based on the inquiry findings from the BLOs, the ERO of the Aland segment filed an FIR with the Inspector of Police at the Aland police station in Kalaburagi district on February 21, 2023," the statement concluded.
Point of View
It's crucial to maintain an unbiased perspective while reporting on electoral integrity issues. The clarification from the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer reflects a commitment to transparency, which is essential in upholding public trust in the electoral process. Our coverage aims to present all sides of the issue, ensuring that our audience receives accurate and reliable information.
NationPress
20/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the allegations of voter fraud in Aland?
The allegations were made by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, who raised concerns regarding the integrity of the voting process in the Aland Assembly seat.
What information was shared with the CID?
The information included objector details, Form Reference Numbers, EPIC numbers, mobile numbers, and other relevant data to assist in the investigation.
How many applications were found to be genuine?
Out of 6,018 applications submitted, only 24 were found to be genuine, while 5,994 were deemed incorrect.
When was the FIR registered?
The FIR was registered by the Electoral Registration Officer on February 21, 2023.
What steps were taken to investigate the applications?
A thorough verification process was conducted by the ERO, AERO, and BLOs to assess the legitimacy of each application.
