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ECI Dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s Claims of Maharashtra Election Rigging as ‘Entirely Absurd’
In an article published in a prominent national newspaper, Gandhi accused the BJP of orchestrating “match-fixing” in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
This article has ignited a political storm, with opposition parties asserting that it reveals the extent of electoral manipulation ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, further criticizing the ECI for its “silence” on critical concerns raised by the opposition alliance.
In response to these allegations, an official from the election panel clarified that the revision of Maharashtra’s electoral rolls was conducted under the oversight of 103,727 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) designated by various political parties, including 27,099 from the Indian National Congress (INC) itself. The official emphasized that there is no basis for Gandhi’s assertions regarding a compromised electoral process.
The ECI outlined that updates to electoral rolls adhere strictly to Article 324 of the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act of 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules of 1960, along with the Commission’s ongoing instructions.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi called on the Election Commission to address the questions highlighted in his article. “Dear EC, you are a Constitutional body. Releasing unsigned, evasive notes to intermediaries is not a proper response to serious inquiries. If you have nothing to hide, answer the questions in my article and demonstrate transparency by:
– Publishing comprehensive, digital, machine-readable voter rolls for the recent Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, including those in Maharashtra.
– Releasing all post-5 p.m. CCTV footage from Maharashtra polling booths.
Evasive tactics won’t safeguard your credibility. Truth does,” he posted on X.
Earlier, the ECI condemned what it termed “unsubstantiated allegations” about Maharashtra’s electoral rolls, calling them an affront to the rule of law. The Commission noted that it had already addressed these concerns in a response to the INC on December 24, 2024, available on its website, and criticized the opposition for ignoring these clarifications.
The ECI maintained that disseminating misinformation is “disrespectful to the law” and undermines the integrity of thousands of representatives appointed by political parties, as well as the countless election staff dedicated to conducting fair elections. “Attempting to malign the Election Commission after an unfavorable verdict from voters is completely absurd,” the ECI stated.
Commission sources also questioned why no appeals were lodged if the allegations held any validity. Following the finalization of the electoral rolls for the Maharashtra elections, only 89 appeals were filed before the District Magistrate out of nearly 978 million electors, with just one appeal reaching the Chief Electoral Officer.
On Saturday, Gandhi reiterated claims that the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were “rigged” and warned that similar tactics could be utilized in the upcoming Bihar elections.
Sharing his article on X, he outlined a five-step plan, asserting, “Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission. Step 2: Add fake voters to the rolls. Step 3: Inflate voter turnout. Step 4: Target bogus voting where the BJP needs to win. Step 5: Hide the evidence.”
He likened the alleged electoral manipulation to “match-fixing,” arguing that while the cheaters may succeed, it ultimately jeopardizes democratic institutions and erodes public trust. “It’s evident why the BJP was so desperate in Maharashtra. Rigging is akin to match-fixing. The cheaters might win, but they damage institutions and destroy public faith in the outcome. All concerned citizens must see the evidence, draw their own conclusions, and demand accountability,” Gandhi added.
He cautioned that the “match-fixing” observed in Maharashtra could soon emerge in Bihar and potentially in any state where the BJP is at risk of electoral defeat. “Match-fixed elections are toxic for democracy,” he stated.
New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.
According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.
The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.
The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.
Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.
In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.
Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.
Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.
Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.
Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.
Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.
The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.
The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”
However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.
Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.
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