NEW DELHI, 11 AUG

After Sunday’s notice issued by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State, the Election Commission reiterated that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi still has time to submit a declaration to the body. The CEO of Haryana also issued a reminder to Gandhi.

The State CEO had issued a notice to the Congress MP on Sunday, asking him to submit proof so the body could probe his “vote theft” allegations.

Gandhi had claimed that a voter, Shakun Rani, voted twice based on data shown by a polling officer.

However, the polling body responded preliminary inquiry, Shakun Rani has denied voting twice. The CEO’s office also found that the tick-marked document presented by Rahul Gandhi was not issued by the polling officer.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday accused the BJP-led Central government of "weaponising" police against the INDIA bloc MPs instead of "addressing rot" in the electoral system.

His remarks came after the Delhi Police detained the INDIA bloc MPs, including Gandhi, for protesting against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and alleging the "voter fraud".

"The cowardly Narendra Modi Govt and a compromised EC have completely lost the plot," Siddaramaiah wrote on X.

Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar questioned the EC for sending Gandhi a notice.

"Who are they to give notice? I have given them notice,” he told the press. “We have the power to give notice. We have won the election legally."