Citing unusual voter turnout surges and discrepancies, Rahul Gandhi alleges “systematic rigging” in the 2024 Maharashtra polls. He warned that democracy is at stake if records are concealed.
BY PC Bureau
June 7, 2025 – In an explosive interview with The Indian Express, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the 2024 Maharashtra Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections of being marred by what he terms “match-fixing.” Gandhi’s remarks have reignited a fierce debate over electoral integrity, focusing on the alleged manipulation of voter rolls and the questionable handling of CCTV footage. He asserts that these tools, intended to strengthen democracy, are being treated as mere ornaments to be locked up or discarded, denying the people of India their right to transparency.
Gandhi’s Allegations: A Call for Accountability
Gandhi’s critique stems from a parliamentary speech on February 3, followed by a press conference where he first aired his concerns. He described the November 2024 Maharashtra elections as a stark example of electoral misconduct, claiming that discrepancies in voter rolls and turnout figures point to systematic rigging. “Not every time, not everywhere, but enough,” Gandhi stated, alleging an industrial-scale effort to undermine democratic processes through the capture of national institutions. He singled out the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for what he perceives as a deliberate attempt to conceal irregularities, urging the Election Commission (EC) to come clean.
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The Congress leader’s remarks were accompanied by a detailed analysis of the election data. He highlighted the unusual 7.83 percentage point increase in voter turnout, which rose from an initial estimate to a final figure of 66.05 percent. This jump, reported only the next morning, exceeded the turnout of previous Vidhan Sabha elections and raised eyebrows among opposition parties. Gandhi argued that such anomalies, particularly the 1.06 percent surge in turnout between 2 PM and 5 PM on polling day, suggest tampering with the electoral process.
How to steal an election?
Maharashtra assembly elections in 2024 were a blueprint for rigging democracy.
My article shows how this happened, step by step:
Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission
Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll
Step 3: Inflate voter… pic.twitter.com/ntCwtPVXTu— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 7, 2025
To address these concerns, Gandhi outlined a three-step strategy to restore public trust:
- Reveal the Voter Register: He demanded the immediate disclosure of the voter register, including details of alleged fake voters, to allow scrutiny of its accuracy.
- Initiate Voter Registration: Gandhi called for a fresh voter registration process to ensure the rolls reflect genuine electors, accusing the EC of delaying action on reported discrepancies.
- Provide Turnout Figures: He insisted on transparent reporting of voter turnout figures, untainted by what he described as inflated participant bases and observer data.
Gandhi emphasized that the people of India deserve assurance that no electoral records—voter lists, CCTV footage, or turnout data—have been or will be trashed. “Democracy cannot function if the tools meant to protect it are locked away,” he warned, urging the government to act swiftly.
Data and Discrepancies: The Numbers Tell a Story
The final turnout of 66.05 percent in the Maharashtra polls marked a significant deviation from earlier projections. Comparative data from previous elections revealed:
- 2019 Lok Sabha Elections: 61.10 percent turnout.
- 2014 Lok Sabha Elections: 63.03 percent turnout.
- 2019 Vidhan Sabha Elections: 65.99 percent turnout.
The 2024 elections saw a notable 0.06 percent increase over the 2019 Vidhan Sabha figure, a change Srikumar described as statistically improbable without explanation. He noted that the BJP’s strike rate in the Lok Sabha contests was particularly striking, with only five seats recording turnouts below 32 percent—a pattern he linked to potential rigging.
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Experts have pointed to the EC’s delay in releasing detailed videography and CCTV footage from polling stations. The state’s diverse electorate, spanning urban centers like Mumbai and rural hinterlands, has historically shown varied turnout patterns. However, the 2024 elections’ unusual surge in participation—particularly in the final hours—has prompted questions about the EC’s oversight. Critics, including Gandhi, suggest that the ruling alliance may have exploited administrative loopholes to inflate turnout in favorable constituencies.
Local reports indicate that the opposition, including the Congress and its allies, faced challenges in monitoring polling stations, with some claiming restricted access to CCTV feeds. This has led to accusations of a coordinated effort to suppress evidence of irregularities, a charge the EC has yet to address comprehensively.
The interview has sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms like X, where users have echoed Gandhi’s concerns. Posts from political analysts and citizens alike call for an independent audit of the 2024 election data, with some demanding the involvement of international observers. However, the government has maintained that the elections were conducted fairly, with the EC dismissing the allegations as baseless.
Gandhi’s call for action aligns with a broader narrative of electoral reform, resonating with opposition leaders across India. If unaddressed, he warned, these issues could erode public faith in democratic institutions. “The people of India have a right to know the truth,” he concluded, urging the central government to uphold its constitutional duty.
The alleged “match-fixing” of voter rolls and the locking away of CCTV footage raise fundamental questions about the health of India’s democracy. For now, the debate rages on, with the onus on the government to prove that the electoral process remains untainted. As Gandhi aptly put it, “Democracy is not a game to be fixed—it is a trust to be honored.”
