Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “match-fixing” within the 2024 Maharashtra elections have been strongly rejected by the Election Fee, which referred to as them unsubstantiated and damaging to democratic establishments.
Congress chief and Chief of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s latest remarks on the 2024 Maharashtra Meeting elections have stirred contemporary controversy, with the Election Fee of India (ECI) vehemently rejecting his claims. Gandhi alleged that the Maharashtra polls have been a part of a “blueprint for rigging democracy,” and that this “match-fixing” can be prolonged to Bihar and different states the place the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) is shedding. The ECI has dismissed these allegations as “unsubstantiated” and “an affront to the rule of legislation.”
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘match-fixing’ allegations
In a put up on X (previously Twitter), Rahul Gandhi accused the ECI and the ruling occasion of orchestrating fraudulent elections to make sure victory. Gandhi’s allegations centered on a collection of alleged irregularities, together with including pretend voters, inflating voter turnout, facilitating bogus voting, and hiding proof. The Congress chief additional said that such practices would lengthen to different states like Bihar, the place the BJP is anticipated to face challenges within the upcoming elections.
” steal an election? Maharashtra meeting elections in 2024 have been a blueprint for rigging democracy,” Gandhi mentioned. He outlined a supposed step-by-step course of, starting with “rigging the panel for appointing the Election Fee” and ending with hiding proof of fraud. He additionally warned that whereas the cheaters may win, such practices would undermine democracy and erode public belief in establishments.
ECI’s robust rebuttal
The Election Fee responded swiftly, calling Gandhi’s claims “absurd” and “deceptive.” In an announcement, the ECI said that its detailed reply to the Congress occasion’s issues was publicly obtainable on the ECI web site since December 2024. The ballot physique emphasised that allegations with out proof not solely disrespect the legislation but additionally demoralize election workers who work tirelessly to make sure honest elections.
“Any misinformation unfold by anybody will not be solely an indication of disrespect in direction of the Legislation but additionally brings disrepute to the 1000’s of representatives appointed by their political events and demotivates lakhs of election workers,” the ECI mentioned.
Political reactions and fallout
The BJP shortly seized on Gandhi’s remarks, accusing him of trying to preempt his occasion’s potential defeat within the upcoming elections by casting doubt on the credibility of the electoral course of. The ruling occasion argued that the Congress chief’s allegations have been a part of a sample of deflecting accountability after shedding elections.
The controversy has raised issues over the trustworthiness of the electoral course of, with the ECI urging all political events to deal with info and chorus from making unfounded accusations.