Rahul Gandhi Alleges Maharashtra Elections Were Rigged, Warns of Repeat in Bihar
On Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections were rigged by the BJP and warned that the same tactics could be used in the upcoming Bihar polls. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he shared an article he wrote, claiming it reveals a systematic blueprint for how the democratic process was allegedly undermined.
"How to steal an election? The Maharashtra assembly polls in 2024 were a blueprint for rigging democracy," Gandhi wrote. "My article shows how this happened, step by step."
He outlined five key stages of the alleged manipulation:
1. Rigging the panel that appoints the Election Commission,
2. Adding fake names to the voter rolls,
3. Inflating voter turnout numbers,
4. Concentrating bogus voting in key constituencies,
5. Covering up the evidence.
Gandhi argued that the BJP’s need to secure a win in Maharashtra led them to undermine democratic processes. “It’s not hard to see why the BJP was so desperate in Maharashtra. But rigging is like match-fixing — the side that cheats may win, but it damages institutions and destroys public faith in the results,” he said.
He urged citizens to scrutinize the available evidence and demand accountability. “The match-fixing in Maharashtra is coming to Bihar next, and then anywhere else the BJP fears losing. Match-fixed elections are poison for democracy.”
The 2024 Maharashtra elections saw a sweeping victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which secured 235 seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi suffered heavy losses.
In response to the allegations, the Election Commission of India (ECI) earlier addressed concerns over voter turnout data and clarified issues related to voter list deletions. The BJP also hit back strongly.
“Rahul Gandhi is back to his disgraceful antics of demonising the country’s institutions. These issues have been repeatedly addressed by the EC in absolute detail,” BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said, as quoted by NDTV.
