EC Debunks Rahul Gandhi's 'Match-Fixed' Claims On Maha Election: 'Completely Absurd'
The poll body asserted that the claims amounted to an "affront to the rule of law," adding that its detailed response to Gandhi’s accusations is still available for public viewing on the ECI’s website.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday strongly countered Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s recent comments on the Maharashtra poll results, dismissing his allegations as “unsubstantiated.”
The poll body asserted that the claims amounted to an "affront to the rule of law," adding that its detailed response to Gandhi’s accusations is still available for public viewing on the ECI’s website.
"Unsubstantiated allegations raised against the Electoral Rolls of Maharashtra are an affront to the rule of law. The Election Commission had brought out all these facts in its reply to the INC on 24th December 2024 itself, which is available on ECI’s website. It appears that all these facts are being completely ignored while raising such issues again and again," the ECI said in its statement.
"Any misinformation being spread, by anyone, is not only a sign of disrespect towards the Law, but also brings disrepute to the thousands of representatives appointed by their political party and demotivates lakhs of election staff who work untiringly and transparently during elections. After any unfavourable verdict by the voters, trying to defame the Election Commission by saying that it is compromised, is completely absurd," the poll body added.
Rahul Gandhi's 'Match-Fixed' Election Claim
The Election Commission's reaction comes as Rahul Gandhi alleged earlier today that the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were a "blueprint for rigging democracy" and that this "match-fixing" would next happen in Bihar and "anywhere the BJP is losing".
Calling the "match-fixed" elections, a "poison for any democracy," the Congress leader, in a post on X, detailed the alleged electoral irregularities in a stepwise manner. These included, addition of fake voters are added, inflated voter turnout, bogus voting is facilitated, and evidence is subsequently hidden.
"How to steal an election? Maharashtra assembly elections in 2024 were a blueprint for rigging democracy," Gandhi said while sharing an an op-ed published in The Indian Express.
"My article shows how this happened, step by step: Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission. Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll. Step 3: Inflate voter turnout. Step 4: Target the bogus voting exactly where BJP needs to win. Step 5: Hide the evidence.
"It's not hard to see why the BJP was so desperate in Maharashtra. But rigging is like match-fixing - the side that cheats might win the game, but damages institutions and destroys public faith in the result. All concerned Indians must see the evidence. Judge for themselves. Demand answers," Gandhi said.
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