Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated calls for the Election Commission to release voter rolls on Monday — seeking an ‘exact date’ for the handover. The remarks came days after the Leader of Opposition alleged rigging in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections and sought a response. The allegations have also sparked off a political war of words with the ruling BJP and its allies hitting out at the Congress lawmaker.
“Good first step taken by EC to hand over voter rolls. Can the EC please announce the exact date by which this data will be handed over in a digital, machine-readable format?” he asked.
Gandhi shared the screenshot of a media report indicating the EC had cleared the way for sharing of electoral-roll data — pertaining to Haryana and Maharashtra from 2009 to 2024. Reports indicate that the poll body had also given an assurance to the Delhi High Court earlier this year. There was, however, no official word from the EC on the reported move. Meanwhile sources told PTI on Sunday that the EC would only respond if the Leader of Opposition wrote directly to the agency.
‘Maharashtra elections were rigged’
The Raebareli MP had stoked controversy over the weekend after publishing an opinion article outlining ways in which the Maharashtra assembly election was “rigged” in November 2024. He claimed that the same thing could happen in the upcoming Bihar polls. The former Congress President explained a five-point process — beginning with the addition of fake voters to the electoral roll. He claimed that the process also included rigging the panel that appoints the Election Commission.
“Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission; Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll; Step 3: Inflate voter turnout; Step 4: Target the bogus voting exactly where the BJP needs to win; Step 5: Hide the evidence…It’s not hard to see why the BJP was so desperate in Maharashtra. But rigging is like match-fixing. The side that cheats might win the game, but (it) will damage institutions and destroy public faith in the result. All concerned Indians must see the evidence. Judge for themselves. Demand answers,” Gandhi said.
(With inputs from agencies)
