Will Rahul Gandhi Take the Oath as Demanded by the Election Commission?

Bengaluru, Aug 11 (NationPress) Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated on Monday that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will not comply with the State Election Commission's request to take an oath.

“We are not schoolchildren to respond to every demand from the Election Commission. It is their responsibility to obtain the necessary information. My leader, Rahul Gandhi, has made his position clear publicly. The Election Commission has received that information already,” remarked the Deputy Chief Minister.

Shivakumar emphasized that the Congress party has sought further documentation and records from the Election Commission.

“First, they need to provide those records. We have made an official request. I personally visited the Election Commission, and they must furnish the information. At no point has Rahul Gandhi been required to take an oath or respond to this request. He has already addressed the Election Commission publicly,” he asserted.

The Deputy Chief Minister asserted that the Congress has already informed the Election Commission regarding the discrepancies observed during the elections, stressing that it is the Commission's duty to address these issues and act according to the law.

“If we have made any incorrect statements, let the Election Commission initiate action against us. We have merely highlighted the irregularities that occurred during the election process. We are not children. Rahul Gandhi has kept the nation informed about everything. When we met with the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, he confirmed that the allegations made by Rahul Gandhi are under investigation,” he added.

Shivakumar claimed that Rahul Gandhi is committed to defending the nation's democracy and ensuring justice for all, noting that his efforts are aimed at preventing the misuse of votes and political malpractice.

When questioned about the notice he received from the Commission, Shivakumar replied, “I have requested some information from the Commission. They have not yet provided it to me. They shared it via WhatsApp, but I haven't reviewed it. We are prepared to submit all findings from our research team. The media has also reported on the irregularities, including specific addresses and resident details.”

“Additionally, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar reportedly possesses two EPIC numbers, according to Tejashwi Yadav from Bihar. Shouldn't the Election Commission investigate this? Do they not bear responsibility? Numerous such errors have occurred. Our fight on this issue will persist,” he stated.

He further added that if providing misinformation is grounds for the Election Commission to take legal action, then let them do so. “We have simply informed the public about the events that transpired. The media, which serves as the fourth pillar of democracy, must further raise awareness on this matter,” he insisted.

Earlier, Shivakumar claimed that the State Election Commission lacks the authority to issue a notice to Rahul Gandhi.

The notice was sent to Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, requesting the necessary documents to investigate the allegations he made during a press conference in Delhi on August 7, along with an oath affirming that he is not providing false information, and that he understands that giving false information is a criminal offense.