Officials slam Rahul Gandhi’s EC allegations as ‘absurd’ and misleading, data reveals key gaps

Rahul Gandhi’s sharp criticism of the Election Commission has drawn fire from election officials, who claim his allegations are not only factually flawed but appear designed to cast unwarranted doubt on the poll process.

A detailed review of his claims reveals selective citation of data, crucial context omitted, and at least one allegation based on a factual mismatch. Officials say the attack follows a familiar political pattern: when outcomes don’t favor a party, the institution is blamed.

“After losing the match, blaming the referee has become standard practice,” a senior EC official was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. “These allegations are absurd and a bid to defame the poll body. The Congress was already sent a reply in December 2024. Has he even read it?”

On appointment of Election Commissioners

Gandhi decried the Modi government’s move to replace the Chief Justice of India (CJI) with a Cabinet minister on the panel selecting Election Commissioners, arguing it undermines impartiality.

But as officials point out, past governments including Congress-led ones had ample opportunity to reform the selection process. In 2007, the Administrative Reforms Commission, chaired by Congress leader Veerappa Moily, called for a bipartisan selection panel. It was never implemented. Nor did the Law Commission’s 2015 report under Justice AP Shah change anything.

“For the first time, we have a law under Article 325 that formalizes the selection process. There's consultation, transparency, and a clear majority mechanism,” said an EC official.

On voter roll spike in Maharashtra

Gandhi raised eyebrows over a sudden addition of 41 lakh new voters in Maharashtra between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections—almost equal to the number added in the previous five years.

But election laws mandate transparency in voter roll revisions. Political parties receive free access to draft and final lists, can appoint booth-level agents (BLAs), and are kept informed throughout the process. In 2024, over 1 lakh BLAs were appointed in Maharashtra, 27,000 by the Congress alone. Yet, fewer than 100 appeals were filed across all parties regarding additions or deletions.

On ‘unprecedented’ voter turnout rise

Gandhi alleged that the voter turnout jumped suspiciously — from 58.22% at 5 pm on polling day to 66.05% the next morning, adding 76 lakh voters overnight.

EC officials explained the obvious: 5 pm turnout figures are provisional, always have been. Voting continues past 5 pm, and final data is compiled only after forms are tallied.

In fact, 2019 saw a similar jump—from 54.43% at 5 pm to 61.10% final turnout. “In 2024, 58 lakh people voted per hour on average. A late surge of 76 lakh voters is entirely plausible,” an official added.

Gandhi’s comparison also flounders on flawed math: he used end-of-day figures for 2019 but compared them to 5 pm numbers for 2024—skewing the contrast.

On ‘bogus voting’ and targeted booths

Gandhi alleged that the turnout surge was focused in 12,000 booths where BJP had lost earlier, implying rigging. As an example, he cited Kamthi, where he claimed BJP’s votes mysteriously jumped from 1.19 lakh in the Lok Sabha polls to 1.75 lakh in the Assembly elections.

But the EC flatly contradicted the claim. Kamthi falls under the Ramtek Lok Sabha seat —contested not by the BJP, but Shiv Sena. “So the BJP never got 1.19 lakh votes there in the Lok Sabha,” an official clarified.

Moreover, the Congress candidate from Kamthi, Suresh Bhoyar, hasn’t filed an election petition challenging the result—despite the legal provision to do so under Section 80 of the Representation of the People Act.

On ‘concealing’ voter rolls and CCTV footage

Gandhi also accused the EC of refusing access to voter rolls and CCTV footage from polling stations.

Officials say that’s misleading. Electoral rolls are available to parties; what’s not shared is the list of who voted due to the constitutional secrecy of the ballot. As for video footage, a December 2024 amendment — following a High Court case — restricted open access to prevent misuse, including manipulation via AI.

“If any candidate has serious concerns, the law allows them to file election petitions. That’s where evidence, including CCTV footage, can be summoned under court supervision,” said a state CEO official.