EC awaits Rahul Gandhi’s complaint

New Delhi

 The Election Commission (EC) has said it will respond to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s allegations regarding irregularities in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections only after receiving a formal communication from him.

Sources in the EC stated on Sunday that Gandhi has not submitted any official complaint or requested a meeting so far. “We will respond when Rahul Gandhi writes to us formally,” an EC official said.

This development follows Gandhi’s opinion piece published in The Indian Express on Saturday, in which he raised serious concerns over the sharp increase in the number of registered voters in Maharashtra between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. According to him, the increase in electors was concentrated in 85 constituencies where the BJP had underperformed in the general elections.

He further alleged “match-fixing” and manipulation in the electoral process, suggesting the data pointed to possible voter list tampering in favor of the ruling party. While EC sources had unofficially dismissed these accusations on Saturday, the Commission has not yet released an official statement addressing the issue.

Gandhi’s article has sparked fresh debate over the transparency and credibility of the electoral process in the country. Political analysts note that if a formal complaint is filed, it could prompt an official inquiry or data validation from the EC. Meanwhile, opposition parties have backed Gandhi’s call for electoral transparency, urging the poll body to investigate the matter impartially to uphold public trust in democratic institutions.