Rahul Gandhi Seeks EC Clarity on Maharashtra Polls, Demands Voter Rolls & Evening CCTV Footage

New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has launched a direct and scathing criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI), questioning its transparency and credibility over the conduct of the recent Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

In a strongly worded post on X, Gandhi wrote: “Dear EC, You are a Constitutional body. Releasing unsigned, evasive notes to intermediaries is not the way to respond to serious questions. If you have nothing to hide, answer the questions in my article and prove it by: Publishing consolidated, digital, machine-readable voter rolls for the most recent elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas of all states, including Maharashtra Releasing all post-5 pm CCTV footage from Maharashtra polling booths. Evasion won’t protect your credibility. Telling the truth will.”

Gandhi’s tweet came after the Election Commission issued a response to his earlier allegations, which he termed as non-transparent and evasive. His post refers to an article in which he raised several questions about the credibility of the polling process, especially in Maharashtra.

In response, the Election Commission dismissed the allegations as baseless. In its statement, the EC said: “Unsubstantiated allegations raised against the Electoral Rolls of Maharashtra are affront to the rule of law. The Election Commission had brought out all these facts in its reply to the INC on 24th December 2024 itself, which is available on ECI’s website. It appears that all these facts are completely being ignored while raising such issues again and again.”

The Commission further warned against the spread of misinformation, stating: “Any misinformation being spread, by anyone, is not only a sign of disrespect towards the Law, but also brings disrepute to the thousands of representatives appointed by their own political party and demotivates lakhs of election staff who work untiringly and transparently during elections. After any unfavourable verdict by the voters, trying to defame the Election Commission by saying that it is compromised, is completely absurd.”