National Desk
9 June
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist and Research Analysist
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about alleged rigging in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Election Commission sources have responded, stating that the Commission will officially reply only if the opposition leader sends a formal letter.
Rahul Gandhi had written an article in two newspapers accusing the BJP of “match-fixing” the Maharashtra elections. He claimed that the elections were manipulated as part of a “blueprint to damage democracy” and warned that similar tactics could be used in Bihar and other states where the BJP faces defeat.
In response, Election Commission sources said they had invited all six national parties, including the Congress, for one-on-one discussions as part of their outreach efforts. While five parties attended meetings with top EC officials, the Congress cancelled its scheduled meeting on May 15.
Rahul Gandhi had also demanded access to CCTV footage from polling stations in Maharashtra. On this, EC sources clarified that, as per its guidelines, only High Courts have the authority to examine such footage if a formal election petition is filed.
The Congress leader had earlier said that the Commission’s credibility could not be protected by hiding the truth, but only by standing for transparency. His statement came after EC sources rejected the claims of rigging.
This ongoing tension highlights growing mistrust between the Election Commission and the opposition. The Congress party has been consistently questioning the transparency of recent elections, while the Election Commission maintains that all processes were followed according to law.
The matter continues to stir political debate, especially as more state elections are scheduled in the coming months, with opposition parties demanding greater electoral accountability and transparency.