New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has accused the Election Commission of India of being “compromised,” asserting that there are significant issues within the electoral system.
During his address to the Indian community in Boston, Gandhi referenced the Maharashtra assembly elections, alleging that 6.5 million voters were added to the voter list within a mere two hours, which he deemed “impossible.”
He stated, “More individuals voted in Maharashtra than the total population of the state, and this is a fact… The Election Commission provided a figure around 5:30 p.m., and by approximately 7:30 p.m., 6.5 million voters had cast their votes, which is physically unfeasible…” as reported by ANI.
He further emphasized, “It is evident to us that the Election Commission is compromised; there is something fundamentally wrong with the system…”
In response, the Election Commission of India has dismissed the opposition’s claims regarding the manipulation of electoral rolls.
Previously, the Election Commission stated that the allegations concerning the electoral rolls were made without proper evidence.
“Very few first or second appeals were submitted under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, or for corrections in the Electoral Rolls (Section 22) or for Inclusion (Section 23) during the recent Special Summary Revision published on January 6-7, 2025,” EC sources informed ANI.
The Election Commission explained that the Special Summary Revision (SSR) entails a review of the voter list and the release of a draft electoral roll.
Typically conducted prior to elections, this process seeks to ensure a fair and transparent voting system by incorporating newly eligible voters, such as those who have turned 18 or have changed their constituency. Additionally, it includes the removal of duplicate entries and deceased individuals from the voter list.
The Election Commission reported that only 89 appeals were submitted in Maharashtra. Despite the presence of 13,857,359 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) nationwide, there were merely 89 requests for modifications to the electoral rolls.
Consequently, the Electoral Rolls published following the completion of the Special Summary Revision (SSR) in January 2025 must be accepted as valid and uncontested by all parties involved.
