On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Maharashtra assembly elections held last year were “rigged” and warned that a similar strategy could be used in the upcoming Bihar polls.
In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha shared an article he authored, stating: “How do you steal an election? The 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections served as a blueprint for undermining democracy. My article breaks down the process step by step.”
He outlined the alleged method: “Step 1: Manipulate the panel that appoints the Election Commission. Step 2: Insert fake names into the voter list. Step 3: Falsely boost voter turnout figures. Step 4: Focus bogus voting in BJP’s key constituencies. Step 5: Conceal the evidence.”
Gandhi argued that the BJP’s actions were driven by desperation and likened the process to match-fixing: “A rigged contest may secure a win, but it corrodes institutions and erodes public trust in democratic outcomes.”
Calling on citizens to examine the evidence for themselves, he urged them to demand accountability.
He concluded, “The match-fixing seen in Maharashtra is headed next to Bihar, and potentially to any state where the BJP faces defeat. Tampered elections are toxic for democracy.”
In the 2024 Maharashtra elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a dominant win with 235 seats, while the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered heavy losses.
Election Commission and BJP respond to the accusations
The Election Commission of India (ECI) previously addressed concerns about alleged irregularities in voter turnout data and clarified issues related to the removal of voter names from electoral rolls.
Responding to Gandhi’s claims, BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said, as quoted by NDTV, “Rahul Gandhi is once again resorting to disgraceful tactics to malign the nation’s institutions. The Election Commission has already responded to these allegations in full detail.”
