"Rahul Gandhi presented facts, not allegations": Congress MP Imran Masood on poll fraud row

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 10 (ANI): Congress MP Imran Masood backed the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress Leader, Rahul Gandhi, over his recent remarks alleging large-scale "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, saying that the Leader of Opposition had "presented facts" based on Election Commission (EC) data and alleged that the Constitution is being "torn to shreds".
"No allegations have been made, Rahul Gandhi has presented facts. Rahul Gandhi has verified and matched the documents provided by the Election Commission and presented the facts before us. An attempt is being made across the country to create a narrative that Rahul Gandhi has made allegations," Masood told ANI on Saturday.
He also criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) for demanding an affidavit under oath from Rahul Gandhi to support his claims.
And they (Election Commission) are saying, give an affidavit... An attempt is being made to create a narrative that this is an allegation, it is not an allegation... This will lead to a revolution in the country... The Constitution is being torn to shreds...," he said.
Meanwhile, the Congress will hold a meeting of its general secretaries, in-charges, and frontal organisation heads on August 11 to discuss a nationwide campaign against "voter list manipulation and election fraud."
The party is also opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, along with other partners of the INDIA bloc.
"Just as Bapu gave us the 'Do or Die' call during the Quit India movement, we today must embark upon a similar do-or-die mission to save Indian democracy. To discuss the party's further nationwide campaign against voter list manipulation and election fraud, as exposed by LOP Sh. @RahulGandhi ji, a meeting of AICC General Secretaries, In-charges, and Frontal Organisation Heads will be held on 11th August at 4:30 PM at 24 Akbar Road, presided over by INC President Sh. Mallikarjun @kharge ji," Congress general secretary KC Venugopal wrote in a post on X on Friday.
On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine.
He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 100,250 votes.
"Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur... All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 658,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 115,586 and BJP polls 229,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said."We found 100,250 votes stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, there is no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday has again asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either give a declaration as per the rules or apologise to the country for his "false" allegations regarding the voter lists.
"Rahul Gandhi should either give a Declaration as per rules or apologise to the country for his false allegations," ECI said in a statement. (ANI)