Political tensions erupted recently as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating voter rolls during the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. Speaking passionately during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, Gandhi claimed approximately 70 lakh new voters were added to Maharashtra's electoral lists between the Lok Sabha elections and the assembly elections, stating this was akin to adding the entire population of Himachal Pradesh.
Gandhi pointed to specific anomalies, such as the addition of over 7,000 voters from just one building in Shirdi, raising eyebrows about the legitimacy of the electoral process. “There’s something problematic in all this,” he asserted, questioning the transparency of the recent electoral changes.
Gandhi's accusations played out against the backdrop of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition's setbacks during the assembly elections. He revealed his concerns over the timing of changes made to key election commissioners just before the Lok Sabha elections, describing such decisions as undermining the electoral integrity.
“Just prior to the Lok Sabha, the Election Commissioner was changed and two new were placed. These are facts, not things I am changing,” Gandhi stated, adding, “Despite repeated appeals, we have not received sufficient data from the Election Commission concerning the elections.” He emphasized the need for the EC to provide the required electoral data for analysis by Congress and its allies, including Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party.
Supporting Gandhi’s claims, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi openly questioned the credibility of the electoral process, emphasizing the disproportionate increase of voters appearing to favor the BJP. Chaturvedi voiced her disgust, noting, “Every person in Maharashtra is questioning how 48 lakh voters were added in just five months between the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.”
The political discourse highlighted concerns over the manner of voter addition, where opposition leaders claim far more voters were added post-Lok Sabha elections than cumulative additions over the previous five years. “This is something the Election Commission must clarify,” Chaturvedi stated.
Gandhi cited various examples where his party had raised concerns related to voting irregularities, recalling how party members highlighted deleted voters alongside the significant rise of new names on the rolls. Addressing their concerns, the Election Commission responded, assuring stakeholders of the transparency of the election process and affirming their commitment to reviewing legitimate issues.
The tensions within the Parliament floor became palpable as the opposition confronted the treasury benches over these allegations. At one moment, the discourse grew heated as officials defended their stance against opposition claims. Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske described Gandhi’s calls for voter list scrutiny as “childish,” asserting the data is publicly available from the Elections Commission of India (ECI) website.
This back-and-forth contained multiple layers: the government’s attempts to dispel opposition claims, Rahul’s repeated insistence on transparency from the Electoral Commission, and the broader political ramifications as allegations concerning voter integrity surfaced.
The backdrop of the assembly elections saw BJP winning over 235 seats, solidifying their grip on power within Maharashtra, with Congress gaining just 16. The severe election loss has only emboldened the opposition’s inquiries and demands for proof to support their claims on the purported identity of new voters.