Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to accuse Rahul Gandhi of election rigging in the state. He said that after the public was rejected, now Congress leaders are repeatedly insulting the democratic process. Fadnavis said, ‘Rahul Gandhi constantly insults the democratic process. He repeatedly disrespects the mandate. People have rejected Rahul Gandhi and in return they are denying the people. With this, the Congress party will move towards even more collapse.
Rahul Gandhi’s article was published in the Indian Express on Saturday, in which the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that the 2024 Maharashtra assembly election ‘rigged in democracy’ is an example of this. He had asked for a compromise on the Election Commission and said that this ‘match fixing’ will be in Bihar next time. The Election Commission immediately dismissed the allegation and said that it is absolutely absurd to discredit the constitutional body after an adverse election result.
Rejected by People, Now He Rejects People’s Mandate @Indianexpresshttps://t.co/ppsux7lcb
Jantene Jyana Nakarale, te mandedala nakaratat! @Loksattalivehttps://t.co/jsdegr3lji
Janata Tyana Nakar, Te Handedala Nakaratat! @lokmat https://t.co/tepsgxvzb8 https://t.co/mj9sxltmo9 pic.twitter.com/lq85a933k
– Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_fadnavis) June 8, 2025
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday targeted Rahul Gandhi by writing an article on the Indian Express itself. He asked the opposition’s question in the Lok Sabha, ‘In which direction is this country being taken to the democratic process and constitutional institutions, in which direction? What kind of poison is being spread? In the Maharashtra assembly elections held last year, the BJP -led Mahayuti alliance won a stunning win by winning 235 seats out of 288 seats. Any party involved in Maha Vikas Aghadi- Congress did not get enough seats to get 16 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) 20 seats and NCP (SP)- to get the post of Leader of Opposition, which was the first time in six decades.
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Devendra Fadnavis said in his article, ‘I understand how much sadness must have been from the defeat in Maharashtra. But if you continue to insult the will of farmers, women, citizens and the people of Maharashtra, then the people of the state will never forgive you. As the Chief Minister and the servant of the people, I will always condemn such insult to the people of Maharashtra. He also alleged that Rahul Gandhi is preparing excuses for defeat in the upcoming assembly elections including Bihar.
What claims did Rahul Gandhi make about Maharashtra elections?
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha underlined the alleged irregularities in the Maharashtra elections in a phased manner. While sharing an article written by him, Rahul Gandhi alleged that fake voters are added to the voter list, the voting percentage is shown exaggerated, fake voting facilities are provided, and later evidence is hidden. He said how to steal the election? The Maharashtra assembly elections held in 2024 were a roadmap of rigging in democracy. Rahul Gandhi wrote, ‘My article phase shows the phase of how this happened. Step 1: The panel was rigged for the appointment of Election Commission. Step 2: Fake voters were added to the voter list. Step 3: Voting percentage was extended. Step 4: Fake voting was conducted at exactly the booths where the BJP had to win. Step 5: The evidence was hidden.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, ‘It is not difficult to understand why the BJP was so frustrated in Maharashtra. But the rigged match is like fixing- the side who cheats can win the game. But this causes harm to the institutions and the public’s trust in them ends. All concerned Indians should see evidence. Decide yourself and ask for answers. Because Maharashtra’s match fixing will now be in Bihar, and then wherever the BJP is losing.
How to Steal An Election?
Maharashtra Assembly Elections in 2024 was a Blueprint for Rigging Democracy.
My article shows how this happy, step by step:
Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the election commission
Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll
Step 3: Inflate Voter… pic.twitter.com/ntcwtpvxtu– Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 7, 2025
Election Commission responded on Rahul Gandhi’s allegations
Rejecting Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, the ECI said in its statement that the facts are being completely ignored by the Congress leader repeatedly. The Election Commission said that such factless allegations not only shows complete disregard towards the law, but also raise questions on the honesty of thousands of representatives appointed by the party and demolish the morale of millions of election officials, who work in tireless hard work and transparent ways during elections. After the election results against their party due to lack of support from voters, trying to discredit the Election Commission by saying this is completely absurd that the Election Commission has ‘compromised’.
Also read: ‘Match fixing’ in Maharashtra elections … Rahul Gandhi explained how elections are stolen, BJP retaliated
ECI responded to Rahul’s allegations with facts, saying, ‘Voter lists in India including Maharashtra are prepared as per the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Voter Registration Rules, 1960. According to the law, either just before the elections and/or once every year, the voter lists are amended and the last copy of the voter lists is handed over to all the national/state political parties including the Indian National Congress (INC). The ECI statement further said, ‘After finalizing these voter lists during the Maharashtra elections, only 89 appeals were filed before the first Appellate Authority (DM), against 9,77,90,752 voters and only 1 appeal was filed before the Second Appellate Authority (CEO). Therefore, it is completely clear that there was no complaint about the voter list of the Congress or any other political party before the Maharashtra assembly elections were held in 2024.
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The Election Commission further said, ‘6,40,87,588 voters reached the polling station from 7 am to 6 pm during the Maharashtra assembly elections. On an average, around 58 lakh votes were cast per hour. According to these average trends, about 1 crore 16 lakh voters must have voted in the last two hours. Therefore, 65 lakh votes by voters in two hours are much lower than voting trends average per hour. Apart from this, every polling station was voted in front of polling agents appointed formally by candidates/political parties. The nominated candidates of the Congress or their authorized agents did not make any confirmation allegations about any unusual voting at the time of investigation before the Returning Officer (RO) and election observers the next day.