During his official visit to Boston, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Election Commission, alleging irregularities in the Maharashtra assembly elections. Gandhi’s claims were centered around voter turnout figures that, according to him, were physically impossible, leading him to accuse the Election Commission of being “compromised”. The remarks, made at a public event in Boston, have stirred a strong political reaction in India, particularly from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
What did Rahul Gandhi say in Boston?
Gandhi’s accusations stemmed from the last Maharashtra assembly elections, where he questioned the accuracy of voter turnout statistics. Specifically, he pointed out that the total voter turnout exceeded the number of eligible voters in the state. According to Gandhi, the Election Commission provided figures showing a massive turnout between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm, with 65 lakh voters casting their votes. Gandhi emphasised the physical impossibility of this scenario, noting that it would have required voters to stand in line for hours until the early morning.
“Between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm, 65 lakh voters voted. This is physically impossible,” Gandhi said, adding that a typical voting process takes around three minutes. He also noted that when Congress sought video evidence of the process, the Election Commission refused to provide it and changed the law to prevent such requests in the future.
BJP hits back
Gandhi’s remarks triggered a strong response from the BJP, which accused him of attacking India’s democratic institutions due to his frustration over the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into the National Herald case. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described Gandhi’s criticism of the Election Commission as an attempt to deflect attention from his legal troubles.
Patra further accused Gandhi of corruption, stating that both he and his mother Sonia Gandhi would soon face imprisonment for alleged embezzlement in the National Herald case. He described Gandhi as a “traitor” for allegedly insulting India’s institutions and democracy while on foreign soil. “You and your mother will not be spared. You will be caught with proceeds of crime and sent to jail,” Patra said.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur said, “Even after losing several elections, some political parties and politicians do not learn any lesson. They just question EVM, Election Commission, and democratic institutions. All they do is shame India on foreign land… I want to say this to Rahul Gandhi and his supporters who spend more time in foreign that the more you shame India, the people of India will give an equally befitting reply.”
Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan criticised Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of routinely defaming India abroad. He stated, “It is Rahul Gandhi’s habit to defame India overseas and speak against the judiciary, constitution, and parliament. This reflects their true commitment to the nation. They lack trust in India’s judiciary and the Election Commission.”
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also condemned Gandhi’s remarks, tweeting, “Whenever Rahul Gandhi is abroad, he never misses an opportunity to share his negative views on India and its democratic systems. It is unfortunate that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha continues to question the credibility of our Election Commission from foreign soil.”
Congress defends Rahul’s remarks
While the BJP has vehemently denied all allegations and continues to link Gandhi’s criticisms to the ongoing legal cases, Congress has argued that the issues Gandhi raised are part of the broader conversation about India’s democratic integrity.
In response to the BJP’s allegations, Congress leaders came to Gandhi’s defence. Congress general secretary Kumari Selja dismissed the BJP’s attacks as politically motivated, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of setting a precedent by criticizing opposition leaders abroad. She argued that Gandhi’s remarks were a reflection of the widespread concern over the integrity of India’s electoral system.
Selja echoed Gandhi’s sentiments, asserting that it was the BJP’s misuse of institutions like the Election Commission and the Central agencies that had undermined India’s democratic processes. She also accused the BJP of disrespecting the Constitution and claimed that the party had turned India’s institutions into tools for political gain.
The allegations against the Election Commission and the broader accusations of corruption against Gandhi also come at a time when his family faces a probe by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the National Herald case, which has further intensified political tensions.