Raipur (Chhattisgarh), April 22: Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the integrity of the electoral process in India, particularly citing discrepancies in voter data from Maharashtra. Her comments come in the wake of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s controversial remarks in the United States, where he alleged that India’s Election Commission (EC) has been “compromised.”
Shrinate highlighted what she described as inexplicable voter turnout numbers, claiming that Maharashtra’s adult population stands at 9.54 crore, yet 9.70 crore people reportedly voted. She pointed to a disproportionate surge in voter registrations, with 32 lakh new voters added over the last five years, followed by a sudden addition of 49 lakh voters in just five months.
“Do you think free and fair elections are happening in this country?” she questioned. “When we asked for videography of the process, the Election Commission refused and changed the rules instead. This raises legitimate concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.”
Her remarks echo Rahul Gandhi’s statements in Boston, where he criticized the EC and suggested there were systemic flaws in India’s democratic framework. The comments sparked controversy, drawing backlash from the BJP, while garnering support from various opposition leaders.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury backed Gandhi’s claims, stating, “His concerns about the presence of fake voters in Maharashtra are genuine. The Election Commission has not acted on his detailed complaints, and that silence is alarming.”
Similarly, Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda cited discrepancies in Haryana’s voter list, advocating for a return to ballot-based voting to ensure transparency.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray also came out in support of Gandhi, describing his statement as “100 per cent correct”. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari added that Gandhi had “spoken with facts” during his US address.
Meanwhile, the BJP launched a sharp rebuttal, accusing Gandhi of damaging India’s global image. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized him for spreading “lies” about constitutional institutions abroad, calling his actions a reflection of “frustration after repeated electoral defeats”.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also attacked Gandhi’s comments, alleging that the Congress leader’s real motive was to “humiliate Indian institutions on foreign soil.”
As election tensions continue to rise, the debate over electoral transparency and institutional credibility remains at the forefront of political discourse.