Rahul Gandhi alleges "match-fixing" in Maharashtra Assembly elections; BJP calls it an insult to voters. CM Fadnavis, Amit Malviya, and Praful Patel counter Rahul's claims. Opposition leaders voice support.
Maharashtra News: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the BJP have clashed over allegations of "match-fixing" in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The BJP reacted bly to Rahul's statement, while the NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT) expressed support for him. The political controversy is intensifying and appears to be extending to the Bihar elections.
Uproar over Rahul Gandhi's statement
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently wrote an article in an English newspaper, describing the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections as a "calculated attack" on democracy. He termed the entire election as "match-fixing," questioning the transparency of the electoral process. Rahul posted on X (formerly Twitter), "How elections are stolen?" and then outlined five steps detailing this alleged fixing.
Rahul's allegations: A step-by-step claim of fixing
According to Rahul Gandhi:
Step 1: Irregularities in the Election Commission's appointment process
Step 2: Inclusion of fictitious names in the voter list
Step 3: Exaggerated voter turnout figures
Step 4: Rigged voting in targeted areas
Step 5: Suppression of evidence of these irregularities
Rahul stated that this would not be limited to Maharashtra, with Bihar being the next target.
Fadnavis's counter: 'Wake up, Rahul Gandhi'
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded sharply to Rahul Gandhi's statement. He said, "Rahul Gandhi has conceded defeat in Bihar. He is insulting the voters. Until he gets on the ground and understands the facts, his party will continue to lose."
Fadnavis described Rahul's article as an insult to democracy and the intelligence of voters, calling the statement an example of cheap politics.
BJP's stance: 'Part of a political conspiracy'
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya stated that Rahul Gandhi's aim is not to protect democracy but to "spread chaos." He wrote, "When Congress wins, the system is good, but when it loses, the same system is questioned." Malviya alleged that this strategy is inspired by George Soros's agenda: "Creating distrust in institutions, weakening them, and then exploiting it politically."
NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT) support
NCP leader Praful Patel, commenting on Rahul Gandhi's statement, said that "if the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha makes such statements, it undermines the dignity of the office." Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut supported Rahul, stating that "the Maharashtra election was hijacked. If the Mahavikas Aghadi government had been formed, it would have impacted Adani projects, so the election was influenced."
The opposition INDIA alliance won a significant victory in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. However, months later, in the Assembly elections, the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) suffered a crushing defeat.
