Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 7: The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday dismissed allegations by Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, of large-scale irregularities in Maharashtra’s electoral rolls, calling them "baseless."
An EC source said the revision of the Maharashtra electoral roll was conducted in the presence of 1,03,727 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from various political parties, including 27,099 appointed by the Indian National Congress itself.
“The entire process adhered strictly to Article 324 of the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, as well as instructions issued by the Commission,” the source emphasized.
In a recent op-ed, Gandhi alleged "match-fixing" by the BJP in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, sparking a political uproar among opposition parties. They argued that the article exposes electoral manipulation and highlights the EC’s alleged inaction.
EC sources, however, refuted these claims, pointing out that despite Maharashtra’s electoral roll containing nearly 9.8 crore electors, only 89 appeals were filed before the first appellate authority (District Magistrate), and just one appeal reached the Chief Electoral Officer.
“There was no irregular pattern in voter deletions or additions. The process was transparent and strictly rule-based,” the source stated.
BJP leader Amit Malviya also weighed in, sharing a news clip labeling Gandhi’s claims as "misleading" and "baseless" while highlighting the EC’s denial of any wrongdoing.