New Delhi [India], April 22: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday strongly dismissed allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding irregularities in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, calling the claims “unsubstantiated” and an “affront to the rule of law.”
According to EC sources, the accusation that 65 lakh votes were cast within two hours—between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM on polling day—is factually incorrect and mathematically plausible. The EC explained that the average voting rate during the elections was around 58 lakh votes per hour. Based on this trend, approximately 116 lakh voters could have voted in the last two hours, making the 65-lakh figure well within expected norms.
The Commission emphasized that polling at every booth took place in the presence of polling agents, officially appointed by various political parties, including the Indian National Congress. Moreover, no formal complaints or substantiated objections were raised by Congress agents during the scrutiny before Returning Officers or Election Observers.
Addressing concerns around the voter rolls, EC sources noted that the electoral lists were prepared in full compliance with the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Special Summary Revisions were carried out as per standard procedure, with final rolls shared with all major political parties. Of nearly 9.78 crore electors in Maharashtra, only 89 appeals were filed with the District Magistrate and just one with the Chief Electoral Officer—none of which raised concerns similar to those now being claimed.
The EC added that over 1.03 lakh Booth-Level Agents, including 27,099 from the Congress, were deployed alongside 97,325 Booth-Level Officers across 1,00,427 polling booths. These figures, the EC said, reflect the transparent and representative nature of the electoral process.
The clarification comes in response to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks made during a public address to the Indian diaspora in Boston, where he alleged that “more people voted than there are adults in Maharashtra” and that “65 lakh voters were added to the list in two hours.” He also claimed the Election Commission refused to provide videographic evidence and altered rules to block such requests.
“This is physically impossible,” Gandhi stated, adding, “It’s very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised.”
In its rebuttal, the EC asserted that such remarks ignore official responses previously provided to the Congress, including a detailed reply dated December 24, 2024.
The Commission concluded by highlighting the global recognition of India’s electoral process and condemned attempts to discredit the institution. “Spreading misinformation brings disrepute to lakhs of honest election workers and demoralizes even party-appointed representatives who ensure transparency,” said EC sources.
The EC reiterated that all aspects of Indian elections—from voter roll preparation to final counting—are conducted under strict legal oversight with wide representation from across the political spectrum. Accusations surfacing after an unfavorable electoral outcome, it noted, are “absurd and misleading.”