Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has intensified his critique of the Election Commission , alleging significant irregularities in Maharashtra’s electoral rolls during the 2024 assembly elections. Speaking during a visit to the United States, Gandhi claimed that approximately 70 lakh voters were added to the state’s electoral list within a five-month span between the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, suggesting potential manipulation favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party .
Gandhi highlighted that the number of registered voters in Maharashtra stood at 9.7 crore, surpassing the state’s adult population of 9.54 crore. He questioned the plausibility of such a discrepancy, asserting that it indicated either a loss of control or deliberate manipulation by the EC. He further alleged that many of the newly added voters were concentrated in constituencies where the BJP secured victories, implying a targeted approach to influence election outcomes.
The Election Commission responded by stating it would address the concerns raised by political parties in writing, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and adherence to uniform procedures across the country. However, the EC did not provide immediate clarification regarding the specific allegations made by Gandhi.
Data from the EC indicates that 48.8 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra’s electoral rolls between the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections, with a net increase of 40.8 lakh after accounting for deletions. This figure contrasts with Gandhi’s claim of 70 lakh additions, suggesting a discrepancy of over 20 lakh voters. The EC’s data also shows that 1.22 crore voters were added in Maharashtra between 2019 and 2024, indicating a consistent pattern of voter registration over the years.
Gandhi also raised concerns about the deletion of voters, alleging that a significant number of those removed from the rolls belonged to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minority communities. He claimed that these deletions disproportionately affected the opposition’s voter base, further questioning the integrity of the electoral process.
In response to these allegations, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Gandhi’s claims as unfounded, asserting that the EC had already addressed the issues raised and that the opposition was attempting to undermine the credibility of the electoral process. Fadnavis emphasized that the EC operates independently and adheres to established protocols to ensure fair and transparent elections.
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