New Delhi: In a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance leaders Sanjay Raut and Supriya Sule, accused the poll body of failing to provide an authentic voter list for Maharashtra’s recent Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. The Opposition bloc has now decided to take the matter to court, alleging large-scale manipulation of electoral rolls.
At a joint press conference on Friday, Gandhi revealed startling discrepancies in Maharashtra’s voter data. He stated that 32 lakh new voters were added between the 2019 Vidhan Sabha elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, in just five months after the Lok Sabha elections, an additional 39 lakh voters were added—a number equivalent to the population of Himachal Pradesh.
“This sudden surge in voter numbers raises serious questions. Who are these 39 lakh voters, and why were they added in such a short span of time?” Gandhi asked. He further alleged that the total number of registered voters in Maharashtra, as per ECI records, exceeds the state’s adult population. “The ECI claims there are 9.7 crore registered voters, but the Union Health Ministry data shows Maharashtra’s adult population is only 9.54 crore. How can there be more voters than adults?” he questioned.
Gandhi also highlighted specific instances of irregularities. “In the Kamthi constituency, Congress received 1.36 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections and 1.3 lakh votes in the assembly polls. Our vote share remained consistent, but the addition of over 35,000 new voters coincided with a drop in BJP’s margin from 1.9 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha to 1.75 lakh votes in the assembly elections,” he said.
Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT) was more direct in his allegations, calling the additional voters “floating voters” who could influence upcoming elections in Bihar and other states. “The Election Commission must explain how these numbers were added. If they remain silent, it proves they are acting under the government’s influence,” Raut asserted.
Supriya Sule of NCP (SCP) echoed these concerns, emphasizing the ECI’s responsibility to ensure transparency. “The Election Commission must provide a complete voter list, including names, addresses, and photographs, to restore faith in the electoral process,” she said.
Gandhi also criticized the government for altering the selection process of election commissioners. “Earlier, the Chief Justice of India, the Leader of Opposition, and the Prime Minister jointly selected election commissioners. Now, the Chief Justice has been removed, and BJP members have been added to the committee. This undermines the independence of the ECI,” he alleged.
The Congress leader further claimed that one election commissioner was removed, and two new commissioners were appointed, raising questions about the ECI’s neutrality. “The Election Commission is supposed to be an unbiased body, but its actions suggest otherwise,” Gandhi said.
The Opposition’s allegations are not limited to voter list discrepancies. Gandhi pointed out that many voters, particularly from Dalit, tribal, and minority communities, were allegedly deleted or transferred from their original polling booths. “We have repeatedly requested the ECI to address these issues, but they have remained silent. This lack of transparency is unacceptable,” he added.
With the Opposition bloc determined to escalate the matter, the battle is set to move to the courts. “If the Election Commission does not act, it will signal the erosion of democratic principles and constitutional values,” Gandhi warned.
The controversy has reignited debates over electoral integrity, with the Opposition demanding accountability and transparency from the ECI. As the legal battle looms, the issue is likely to dominate political discourse in the coming weeks.