New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged large-scale electoral manipulation during the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, accusing the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of orchestrating what he called a “match-fixing” operation to secure a sweeping victory. In an op-ed published in The Indian Express, Gandhi claimed that the NDA implemented a calculated five-step strategy to subvert the democratic process and influence the outcome.
The Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—won 235 out of 288 seats, with the BJP alone securing 132 seats, marking its strongest-ever performance in the state. In stark contrast, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which included the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP), was reduced to just 50 seats.
Rahul Gandhi, detailing his accusations, alleged that the BJP-led alliance employed a five-step model to rig the Maharashtra elections—starting with manipulating the panel responsible for appointing Election Commissioners, followed by adding fake voters to the electoral rolls, inflating voter turnout figures, strategically deploying bogus votes in key BJP-leaning constituencies, and finally, suppressing or concealing any evidence of the alleged manipulation.
“This wasn’t about minor irregularities. It was industrial-scale rigging,” Gandhi wrote, accusing the BJP of capturing vital national institutions to undermine electoral fairness.
Gandhi’s main criticism focused on the Election Commissioners Appointment Act, enacted in 2023, which replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union Minister on the selection committee for Election Commissioners. He argued that this structural change compromised the neutrality of the Commission, giving the executive undue influence over a supposedly independent institution.
“The decision to place a cabinet minister instead of the Chief Justice on the selection committee does not pass the smell test,” Gandhi said in the op-ed. “Why remove a neutral arbiter unless you want to control the outcome?”
The Election Commission, however, has reiterated that it functions independently and in accordance with constitutional provisions. It maintains that all processes followed during the elections were lawful and transparent.
Reacting sharply to Gandhi’s remarks, the BJP dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Party spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said, “Rahul Gandhi is back to his disgraceful antics of discrediting India’s institutions. These accusations have been addressed time and again by the Election Commission.”
Gandhi also raised concerns over a sudden spike in voter registration ahead of the state polls. Citing official data, he pointed out that the number of registered voters in Maharashtra increased from 8.98 crore in the 2019 assembly elections to 9.29 crore during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections—an increase of 31 lakh over five years. However, within just five months after the general elections, the figure reportedly surged by another 41 lakh, reaching 9.70 crore before the state elections.
The BJP, responding to this, said such increases were normal and had occurred in other states, including Karnataka, where Congress emerged victorious. “Besides, Rahul Gandhi has quoted different figures at different times,” Tuhin Sinha said, casting doubt on the consistency of Gandhi’s claims.
The Election Commission attributed the surge in voter numbers to intensified outreach efforts, especially among youth, and a robust voter registration campaign launched ahead of the elections. Gandhi, however, rejected this explanation, maintaining that the numbers indicate deliberate and targeted manipulation.
The allegations have reignited debates around the independence of electoral institutions and the integrity of democratic processes in India. While the BJP and the Election Commission continue to defend the legitimacy of the Maharashtra election results, Gandhi’s accusations have added fresh momentum to opposition concerns ahead of future elections.
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