The editorial states, “When Modi and Shah were in power, they obstructed the Congress from assuming the role of Leader of Opposition. However, this time, the public empowered Rahul Gandhi, making him the Leader of Opposition. The Election Commission should act on his allegations without waiting for a formal complaint, but will Modi and Shah allow it?”

“Rahul Gandhi utilized democratic channels to express his views on the Maharashtra assembly elections, publishing articles outlining how the Election Commission compromised the fairness of the polls. Maharashtra played a vital role in defeating Modi in the Lok Sabha elections, shattering the ‘Ab ki baar char sao paar’ dream. In just six months following that electoral setback, Congress, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, and the Shiv Sena, did not collectively secure even 50 seats. How can such a dramatic turnaround occur so quickly? Rahul Gandhi’s writings reveal how the Election Commission contributed to this ‘match-fixing’, indicating potential threats to democracy that might resurface in the Bihar Assembly elections,” the editorial emphasized.

The piece noted Gandhi’s criticisms concerning voter list irregularities, including a sudden increase of around 7 million voters and polling after 5 PM.

“Gandhi’s demands are clear: he calls for the publication of a consolidated, machine-readable digital voter list for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections nationwide, including Maharashtra. Additionally, he seeks public access to all CCTV footage from polling stations in the state post-5 PM. Rather than responding directly, the Election Commission has appointed BJP leaders as legal representatives. When Gandhi wrote an article addressing these issues, Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis attempted to counter by writing his own. It’s troubling for a political party to advocate for the Election Commission, particularly when there are allegations of electoral fraud,” stated the editorial.

“Gandhi’s comments have resonated deeply with Fadnavis and others. The Election Commission has trampled the Constitution to facilitate power gains in Maharashtra, aided by Amit Shah’s division of the Shiv Sena and NCP, disregarding the Anti-Defection Act. This entire situation is unconstitutional, and the Election Commission has colluded in these unlawful activities. Now, they suggest Gandhi file a formal complaint, which appears to be a cowardly attempt to cleanse their tarnished image. The BJP is merely attempting to divert attention away from the Commission’s shortcomings, especially after multiple complaints post the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections,” the editorial continued.

Meanwhile, Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and president of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), accused Congress of merely offering “lip service” regarding electoral irregularities.

“The Congress is simply paying lip service. Following the announcement of the Maharashtra elections and the discrepancies we identified, I reached out to Kharge on January 16, 2025, urging a united front. However, I received no response from either Kharge or the Congress,” Ambedkar stated.

He added that he sought Kharge’s support in opposing amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.

“After receiving no reply from the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra to my letter dated December 12, 2024, and no response from Kharge and Congress, we decided to pursue legal action. On February 3, 2025, VBA’s representative filed a writ petition against the Election Commission, which the Bombay High Court accepted,” Ambedkar explained.

“The petition focused on the discrepancies in the vote counts and sought answers to the same questions I had previously asked the Chief Electoral Officer. I am personally arguing this case. The court has already issued a notice to the Election Commission, with multiple hearings to date, and the next is scheduled for June 16, 2025,” he added.

“Here’s the question: why didn’t Congress or Rahul Gandhi take this to court themselves? The Congress has numerous experienced lawyers, including current and former MPs. Why hasn’t Congress filed legal action? What has Rahul Gandhi’s article achieved except enhancing his image?” Ambedkar posed.

“If Congress genuinely aimed to tackle this significant issue, they and Rahul Gandhi could have pursued legal action, just as we have done. What prevented Congress from joining forces with VBA on this matter?” Ambedkar concluded.