Rahul Gandhi seeks data on 70 lakh voters in Maharashtra

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi raised questions over the integrity of the Maharashtra polls held in November last year in which the BJP-led Mahayuti won a massive mandate and demanded the Election Commission furnish data to opposition parties

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that about 70 lakh voters, equivalent to Himachal Pradesh’s population, were added to the electoral rolls in Maharashtra between the Lok Sabha and State elections, and demanded the Election Commission furnish data to opposition parties in the State.

Speaking to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, Gandhi raised several questions over the integrity of the Maharashtra polls held in November last year in which the BJP-led Mahayuti won a massive mandate, and said he was confident the EC would not provide the details sought by the opposition parties.

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With a copy of the Constitution in hand, Gandhi said this is supported by the “vote of our people and without a secure vote, the Constitution means nothing”. “Now, I want to bring to the notice of this House some data about Maharashtra polls. Between the Lok Sabha polls, which the INDIA bloc won, and the Assembly elections, the number equivalent to the population of Himachal was added to the voting rolls of Maharashtra,” Gandhi told the House, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance.

Gandhi claimed that the difference between the Lok Sabha polls in June and the State polls in November was that almost 70 lakh voters suddenly arriving. He said the new voters have been added mostly in constituencies where the BJP eventually won.

He said the Election Commissioner used to be chosen by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice but the Chief Justice was removed from the panel by the government.

“This raises a crucial question for the Prime Minister: why was this change made? In a few days, I will be attending a meeting with Mr. Amit Shah and Mr. Modi, which seems like an uneven playing field, with a 2:1 ratio. What’s the point of my attendance? Am I merely there to rubber-stamp what Modi ji and Amit Shah ji say?” he said.

The presence of the Chief Justice would have facilitated a more balanced discussion, he said, adding this change to remove the CJI appears to be a deliberate strategy.

“Furthermore, the Election Commissioner was replaced just before the Lok Sabha elections, two election commissioners were appointed. To safeguard the Constitution, the entire Opposition is requesting data on the Maharashtra Election,” Gandhi said.

His remarks in the Lower House came a day after the Congress set up an eight-member committee — Empowered Action Group of Leaders and Experts (EAGLE) — to monitor the conduct of free and fair elections by the Election Commission of India.

The committee will first take up the Maharashtra voters’ list “manipulation” issue, and submit a detailed report to the leadership at the earliest, the party had said in a statement.

Gandhi had last month alleged that there is a “serious problem” with the country’s election system and that the Election Commission needs to ensure there is transparency in polls.