The Election Commission of India (EC) has urged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to submit a formal complaint directly to the poll panel regarding his allegations of rigging during the Maharashtra elections, according to a PTI report citing EC sources.
Rahul Gandhi recently penned an article alleging that the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were “match-fixed,” suggesting similar tactics might be deployed in Bihar and other states where the BJP faces setbacks. The EC, in response, has clarified it will not entertain such serious claims through media statements and instead expects a direct communication from the Congress leader.
Sources said the EC had scheduled individual meetings with all six national parties, but while five participated, the Congress cancelled its May 15 meeting with EC officials.
On Saturday, Gandhi had criticized the EC for allegedly brushing off his accusations. “Evading the truth won’t protect the EC’s credibility,” he wrote, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in electoral processes.
When questioned about Gandhi’s demand for access to CCTV footage from polling stations, an EC functionary pointed out that such footage can be reviewed only upon a high court’s directive as part of an election petition. “This protocol ensures both the integrity of the election process and the privacy of voters,” the official added. “Why does Rahul Gandhi want to intrude into that protected privacy?”
The EC also rebutted Gandhi’s claim about voter list tampering, noting that Congress’ own booth-level agents and counting officials were present during the electoral process and should have raised concerns if there were irregularities.
The poll panel emphasized that any discrepancies should be addressed through legal channels, including petitions in the relevant high courts, rather than through public statements.
This back-and-forth highlights escalating tensions between the opposition and the election authority, as debates over electoral transparency and institutional trust continue to dominate the post-election narrative.
