New Delhi [India], September 3 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shazia Ilmi on Wednesday accused Congress leader Pawan Khera and his wife Kota Neelima of holding two voter ID cards each.
Ilmi called the Congress party "vote dacoits," alleging that in 1980, Sonia Gandhi was enrolled in the electoral list despite being an Italian citizen at the time.
Speaking at the press conference, Shazia Ilmi said, "Congress Party CWC member Pawan Khera holds two EPIC cards, and his wife, Kota Neelima, who was a candidate in the 2023 elections from the 60 Khairatabad Assembly constituency in Telangana, also has two EPIC cards"
"Although it is not unusual, in 1980, Sonia Gandhi, despite being an Italian citizen, was enrolled in the electoral list...They are vote dacoits. Rahul Gandhi blames the general public of India, but remains silent when it comes to his own core team," she added.
A day earlier, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the New Delhi constituency has issued a notice to Congress leader Pawan Khera stating that he has got his "name registered in two constituencies" and why action should not be taken against him.
In the notice, ERO said that being registered in the electoral roll of more than one constituency is a penal offence under the Representation of the People Act 1950.
"You are therefore directed to show cause as to why action should not be taken against you under said Act," the notice said. It said Khera's reply should reach the office by 11 am on September 8.
The notice stated that Khera's name is there in the voter list of New Delhi and Jangpura constituencies.
Khera hit out at the Election Commission, saying it functions "to support the ruling regime" at the Centre and asked why no notice has been issued by the poll panel "to the 1,00,000 fake voters of Mahadevapura constituency" in Karnataka over allegations of Rahul Gandhi.
Khera alleged that while complaints of opposition parties over "vote chori" are disregarded, the "EC rushes to act against opposition members"