The Election Commission of India (EC) has pushed back against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of rigging during the 2024 Maharashtra elections, stating that all polls were conducted in full compliance with laws passed by Parliament and established rules.
In a letter dated June 12 and sent via email, the EC responded to Gandhi’s recent article in a national daily where he accused the electoral body of malpractice. The EC asserted that the entire election process was carried out transparently and in a decentralised manner across all assembly constituencies in the state.
The Commission highlighted that over 1,00,186 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), 288 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 139 General Observers, 41 Police Observers, 71 Expenditure Observers, and 288 Returning Officers were involved in overseeing the elections. Additionally, political parties—including the Congress—appointed 1,08,026 Booth Level Agents (BLAs), with Congress itself fielding 28,421 agents across Maharashtra.
The EC reminded Gandhi, now the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, that any genuine electoral grievances should be raised through legal channels. “We presume that any issue regarding the conduct of elections would have already been raised through election petitions filed in the competent court of law (High Court) by INC candidates,” the letter stated.
However, the poll body also extended an olive branch, saying Gandhi was welcome to submit any further concerns in writing or meet the Commission in person at a mutually convenient time to discuss the issues raised.
The response underscores the Commission’s stance that the 2024 elections were free and fair, despite increasing political criticism and controversy surrounding the conduct and outcome of polls in several states.
