Rahul Gandhi Challenges Election Commission Over Maharashtra Poll Allegations
Rahul Gandhi's Response to Election Commission
Congress Member of Parliament and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has reacted to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) response regarding his allegations of electoral fraud in the Maharashtra elections. He criticized the ECI for providing unsigned and vague notes to intermediaries instead of addressing serious inquiries directly.
In a post on X, he stated, "Dear EC, you are a Constitutional body. Providing unsigned, evasive notes to intermediaries is not an appropriate way to address serious questions."
Gandhi urged the ECI to demonstrate transparency by taking specific actions, including:
- Publishing comprehensive, digital, and machine-readable voter rolls from the latest Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections across all states, including Maharashtra.
- Making available all CCTV footage from polling booths in Maharashtra recorded after 5 PM.
He emphasized that evasion would not safeguard the ECI's credibility, but honesty would.
Dear EC,
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 7, 2025
You are a Constitutional body. Releasing unsigned, evasive notes to intermediaries is not the way to respond to serious questions.
If you have nothing to hide, answer the questions in my article and prove it by:
• Publishing consolidated, digital, machine-readable…
Election Commission's Stand
Previously, the Election Commission dismissed Rahul Gandhi's claims as "unsubstantiated allegations."
In its statement, the ECI remarked, "The unsubstantiated allegations concerning the electoral rolls of Maharashtra are an affront to the rule of law. The Commission had already addressed these points in its response to the Indian National Congress on December 24, 2024, which is accessible on the ECI's website. It seems these facts are being overlooked while these issues are repeatedly raised."
The ECI further stated that spreading misinformation is a "disrespect towards law," and attempts to defame the institution are "entirely absurd."
Following Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's tweet on Maharashtra election, ECI says, "…unsubstantiated allegations raised against the Electoral Rolls of Maharashtra are affront to the rule of law. The Election Commission had brought out all these facts in its reply to INC on 24th… pic.twitter.com/5M7Gzf1anI
— News Media (@ANI) June 7, 2025
Allegations of Rigging in Maharashtra Elections
On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi accused the Maharashtra assembly elections held in November 2024 of being "rigged" and warned that similar tactics might be employed in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
In a post on X, he shared an article he wrote for a newspaper, detailing the alleged "rigging" that occurred during the Maharashtra assembly elections.
"The Maharashtra assembly elections in 2024 served as a blueprint for undermining democracy. My article outlines the step-by-step process of how this transpired," Gandhi stated on X.
In response to Gandhi's allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde remarked, "During the Lok Sabha elections, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi won in Maharashtra, they did not raise any concerns. At that time, the EVMs and ECI were deemed reliable. Now, they are attempting to propagate a false narrative. The people of Maharashtra are intelligent and will recognize which government serves them best. They will teach them a lesson in the forthcoming elections."
#WATCH | Thane, Maharashtra | On Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's tweet on Maharashtra and Bihar elections, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde says, "In the Lok Sabha elections, when Maha Vikas Aghadi won the elections in Maharashtra, they did not say anything. At… pic.twitter.com/EofSv8TXZb
— News Media (@ANI) June 7, 2025