New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi’s recent claims of electoral malpractice in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections are facing increased scrutiny, with analysts and political observers highlighting inconsistencies in his arguments. Gandhi alleged that inflated voter lists benefited the BJP-led NDA, pointing to an increase from 9.29 crore voters in the Lok Sabha elections to 9.70 crore in the Assembly polls.
However, data analysis reveals that such increases in voter numbers between elections are common and have occurred during periods of Congress-led alliance victories as well. Historical data indicates similar or even larger increases in voter rolls in past election cycles that coincided with Congress wins.
For example, in 2009, the electorate in Maharashtra increased by nearly 70 lakh before the Lok Sabha elections, where the Congress-led alliance won a majority of seats. A similar pattern was observed in 2004, and even in the 2019 Assembly elections, which saw a Congress-led alliance victory, voter lists increased.
Notably, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections also saw a significant increase in voter registration in Maharashtra, with the Congress-led alliance performing strongly. This raises questions about the basis of Gandhi’s allegations, as similar increases have previously coincided with Congress victories.
Experts emphasize that updates to electoral rolls are a normal part of the democratic process, accounting for new voters, corrections, and the inclusion of previously excluded citizens. In a state like Maharashtra, with high migration and urbanization, such increases are expected.
Critics argue that Gandhi’s claims lack internal consistency, as they only raise concerns about rising voter numbers when the BJP wins, but not when the Congress-led alliance benefits. Such statements risk undermining public trust in democratic institutions without substantial evidence. The data suggests that the rise in voter numbers in 2024 is not unprecedented, and past elections won by the Congress-led alliance weaken the claim that the election was manipulated through artificial inflation of the electorate. Without concrete proof of wrongdoing, the rise in voter registration alone does not justify allegations of match-fixing.
