Addressing members of the Indian diaspora in Boston, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi made a serious allegation, claiming that India’s Election Commission is “compromised” and citing voter roll discrepancies in Maharashtra as evidence of a “broken system.”
Gandhi claimed that in the Maharashtra elections:
“More people voted than the total number of people in Maharashtra… At 5:30 p.m., the EC gave us a figure. By 7:30 p.m., 65 lakh new votes had been cast — physically impossible,” he told the gathering.
Election Commission Responds
While Gandhi’s remarks drew attention, Election Commission sources dismissed the claims, stating that allegations of manipulated rolls were “unfounded.”
According to the EC:
- The Special Summary Revision (SSR) published in January 2025 received just 89 appeals for changes in Maharashtra.
- There were 13.8 million Booth Level Agents nationwide, yet no major objections to electoral rolls were raised.
- Therefore, the voter list is considered undisputed and valid under due process.
Broader Concerns on Democratic Institutions
Gandhi framed the issue as part of a larger institutional decline, saying:
“It’s very clear to us that something is deeply wrong with the system. The Election Commission is not acting independently.”
US-India Relations and Congress Ideals
Beyond domestic issues, Gandhi touched upon US-India ties, expressing hope for continued cooperation:
“We have a partnership with the US, and hopefully we will continue to work together.”
He thanked the diaspora for supporting Congress party values, adding:
“You believe, you listen to other people, and you respect them. This is what runs in the Congress party and in our family.”
Upcoming Engagement
Rahul Gandhi is also set to speak at Brown University on Monday, continuing his international outreach ahead of India’s Lok Sabha elections.