Let Election Commission itself submit an affidavit, says Ashok Gehlot

Questioning the neutrality of the Election Commission, veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday (August 8, 2025) asked the poll body to itself submit an affidavit stating that there were no irregularities in the elections. The Election Commission had demanded an affidavit under oath from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi about his allegation of electoral fraud.

Mr. Gehlot said at a press conference in Jaipur that the Election Commission had made an “absurd demand” despite knowing the fact that Mr. Gandhi was working under an oath to uphold the Constitution which inherently included strengthening the constitutional institutions. “Instead of making such a ridiculous demand, the EC should have initiated a fair investigation,” he said.

The former Rajasthan Chief Minister accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of damaging all democratic institutions, while affirming that the Election Commission, once respected globally for its credibility, was being looked at with suspicion. “Democracy cannot survive in the country when the EC colludes with the ruling party,” Mr. Gehlot said.

Mr. Gehlot said the statements of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha about electoral fraud in Maharashtra and Karnataka were “absolutely correct” and in the interest of the nation. Mr. Gandhi’s presentation had proved that a dangerous game was being played in the country, he said, adding that threats were being issued to the Congress leader instead of addressing the issue.

While the Election Commission was depicting a “clear bias” against the Opposition leaders after changes in its appointment procedure, the BJP’s manipulation of election results through “rigging and money power” and its acts to undermine institutions for political advantage had posed a major threat to the nation’s democracy, Mr. Gehlot said.