New Delhi, June 8 – In a sharp escalation of political tensions, Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has alleged large-scale electoral malpractice in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, characterizing it as a “blueprint for rigging democracy.”
In a post shared on social media platform X, Gandhi distilled the central arguments from his op-ed published in The Indian Express, where he outlined what he claims to be a systematic manipulation of the electoral process favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Detailing what he described as a five-step “rigging protocol,” Gandhi wrote:
“Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission
Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll
Step 3: Inflate voter turnout
Step 4: Target the bogus voting exactly where BJP needs to win
Step 5: Hide the evidence”
“It’s not hard to see why the BJP was so desperate in Maharashtra,” Gandhi remarked in his post. “But rigging is like match-fixing – the side that cheats might win the game, but damages institutions and destroys public faith in the result.”
He further warned of the alleged pattern spreading to other states. “The match-fixing of Maharashtra will come to Bihar next, and then anywhere the BJP is losing,” he said, describing manipulated elections as “poison” for any democracy.
Gandhi concluded with an appeal to citizens: “All concerned Indians must see the evidence. Judge for themselves. Demand answers.”
BJP Responds: “Deliberate Attempt to Undermine Trust”
The Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to reject the allegations, with party leaders calling them “baseless” and “misleading.”
Venkatesh Bung, co-head of the BJP IT Cell in Western Maharashtra, issued a direct rebuttal on X, addressing each of Gandhi’s five points.
“Your article in The Indian Express titled ‘Match-fixing Maharashtra’ is not just misleading — it is a deliberate and dangerous attempt to erode public trust in India’s democratic institutions,” Bung wrote. “Let’s not poison the soul of Indian democracy for the sake of headlines. Stop the drama. Respect the mandate. Serve the people.”
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also dismissed Gandhi’s claims, saying, “This means he has already accepted defeat. People who fear losing often say such things.”
Political Implications
Gandhi’s allegations and the BJP’s swift rebuttal have ignited a wider national debate on the integrity of electoral processes. As India continues to navigate a politically polarized landscape, such claims—whether substantiated or contested—are likely to influence not only public discourse but also the strategies of both ruling and opposition parties ahead of future state and national elections.
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