Kumar Bahukhandi
Election Commission – Photo: PTI
The Election Commission has reacted sharply after the allegations made by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, regarding the Maharashtra elections. The Election Commission termed Rahul’s claims as baseless and called it an insult to the rule of law. He said, ‘The baseless allegations made regarding the Maharashtra Assembly elections and the voter list are an insult to the rule of law. The Election Commission had put forward all these facts in its reply sent to the Congress on 24 December 2024 itself, which is available on the Election Commission’s website. It seems that all these facts are being completely ignored by raising such issues again and again.’
The Election Commission said that any misinformation being spread by anyone is not only a sign of disrespect for the law but also tarnishes the image of thousands of representatives appointed by their own political party. It demoralizes lakhs of election staff who work tirelessly and transparently during elections. Trying to defame the Election Commission by saying that after any adverse decision on the part of voters, it is completely absurd.
Responses of the Election Commission based on facts
- During the assembly elections in Maharashtra, 6,40,87,588 voters who reached the polling station from 7 am to 6 pm voted. On an average, about 58 lakh votes were cast per hour. According to these average trends, about 116 lakh voters would have voted in the last two hours. Therefore, the casting of 65 lakh votes by voters in two hours is much less than the average per hour voting trends.
- Voting proceeded in front of formally appointed agents on behalf of candidates or political parties at each polling station. No allegations were made by the nominated candidates of Congress or their authorised agents regarding any abnormal voting during scrutiny before the Returning Officer (RO) and Election Observers the next day.
- Voter lists in India including Maharashtra are prepared as per the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Voters Rules, 1960. As per the law, special revision of voter lists is done either just before the elections and or once every year and the final copy of the voter lists is handed over to all national or state political parties including the Indian National Congress (INC).
- After finalisation of these voter lists during the Maharashtra elections, only 89 appeals were filed with the First Appellate Authority (DM) and only one appeal was filed with the Second Appellate Authority (CEO) against 9,77,90,752 voters. So it is quite clear that there was no complaint from Congress or any other political party before the conduct of Maharashtra Assembly Elections in 2024.
- During the revision of the voter list, along with 97,325 booth level officers appointed by the Electoral Registration Officer for 1,00,427 polling stations, 1,03,727 booth level agents were also appointed by all political parties, of which 27,099 were appointed by the Congress. Therefore, these baseless allegations raised against the voter list of Maharashtra are an affront to the rule of law.
- The Election Commission had put forward all these facts in its reply to the Congress on December 24, 2024 itself, which is available on the ECI website. It appears that all these facts are being completely ignored while raising such issues again and again.
What did Rahul Gandhi say?
Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X How to steal the election? Maharashtra Assembly Elections in 2024 was a blueprint to rig democracy. My article shows how it happened? He shared five steps with his article. Rahul Gandhi wrote that the first step – rigging the panel for appointment of Election Commission, second step – adding fake voters to the voter list, third step – increasing the voting percentage, fourth step – target fake voting exactly where BJP has to win and fifth step hiding the evidence.
‘Maharashtra’s match fixing will happen next time in Bihar’
Rahul Gandhi said that it is not difficult to see why BJP was so desperate in Maharashtra? But this rigging is like match fixing – the side that cheats may win the game, but damages the institutions. Also destroys public faith in the result. All concerned Indians should see the evidence. Decide for yourself. Demand answers. Because Maharashtra’s match fixing will happen next time in Bihar and then there where BJP will be losing.
