Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, on Friday leveled serious allegations regarding irregularities in Maharashtra's voter list, claiming that the number of registered voters in the state had exceeded its actual adult population. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, he was flanked by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule as he laid out what he described as “deep anomalies” in voter registrations ahead of the recently concluded Assembly elections. The opposition leader highlighted an unusual and unprecedented increase in the number of voters in Maharashtra between the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the state Assembly polls, questioning the legitimacy of these additions and hinting at potential electoral fraud.
Presenting data to support his claims, Gandhi pointed out that in the five years between the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, approximately 32 lakh new voters were added to the state's electoral rolls. However, in the short span of just five months between the Lok Sabha elections and the Maharashtra Assembly polls, a staggering 39 lakh new voters were reportedly registered. He argued that this abrupt surge defied logical patterns of voter registration and needed urgent scrutiny. Comparing the figure to the entire voter base of Himachal Pradesh, Gandhi posed a crucial question: “Who are these 39 lakh voters? How is it that Maharashtra, all of a sudden, has more registered voters than its actual adult population?”
The Congress leader's allegations have sparked fresh concerns over the credibility of India’s electoral process, particularly in Maharashtra, where the political landscape underwent a dramatic shift between the two elections. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition alliance—comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP-SP—performed strongly, securing 30 out of 48 parliamentary seats in the state. However, in the subsequent Assembly elections, held just months later, the same alliance faced a crushing defeat, managing to win only 49 out of 288 seats. The sharp contrast in outcomes has fueled speculation that electoral malpractices, including voter roll manipulations, could have played a role in the opposition’s sudden decline.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) swiftly responded to Gandhi’s allegations, issuing a statement reiterating its commitment to electoral integrity and promising to provide a detailed written response. "The ECI considers political parties as priority stakeholders in the electoral process. We deeply value their views, suggestions, and questions. The commission will respond in writing, presenting a full factual and procedural matrix that is uniformly followed across the country," the poll body stated.
Gandhi’s accusations echo similar concerns raised by Congress in the past. Just days after the Lok Sabha election results were announced, a Congress delegation met with Election Commission officials, demanding "raw data" on the 39 lakh voters added to the rolls in Maharashtra. The ECI, in its earlier response, had provided numerical details, stating that a total of 48,81,620 new voters had been added to the list while 8,00,391 names were removed for various reasons, leading to a net increase of 40,81,229 voters. While the Election Commission defended these additions as part of a routine revision process, opposition leaders remain skeptical, arguing that such a massive increase in such a short time raises serious doubts about transparency.
BJP’s Counterattack
Reacting to Gandhi’s remarks, Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the allegations outright, accusing the Congress of trying to divert attention from its repeated electoral failures. He suggested that the opposition was fabricating controversies to shift focus from its dwindling electoral prospects. "This is nothing but an excuse. They are doing this to cover up their losses and create a false narrative ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections. Instead of making baseless accusations, they should focus on their strategy—only then will they understand why they keep losing elections," Fadnavis remarked.
Fadnavis further argued that the Congress and its allies were making “desperate attempts” to question the credibility of India’s democratic institutions. "Every time they lose an election, they come up with new excuses—EVMs, voter lists, or some other fabricated issue. The reality is that the people of Maharashtra rejected them, and they need to accept that instead of crying foul,” he added.
A Growing Debate on Electoral Integrity
The controversy over Maharashtra’s voter list has reignited a broader debate on electoral integrity and transparency in India. Over the past few years, opposition parties have repeatedly raised concerns about voter list manipulations, demanding greater accountability and transparency in the process of voter registration, deletion, and verification. Several political analysts believe that the issue could gain further traction in the coming months, especially with state elections scheduled in multiple regions and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections looming on the horizon.
The Election Commission’s forthcoming written response is expected to be crucial in either quelling or escalating the controversy. If the ECI provides convincing evidence and procedural justification, it could put the opposition’s concerns to rest. However, if gaps remain in the explanation, the issue might continue to dominate political discourse, further straining relations between the ruling and opposition parties.
In the larger scheme of things, this development underscores the high-stakes nature of electoral politics in India, where even minor irregularities can snowball into major political battles. The coming weeks are likely to see intensified debates, legal challenges, and possibly even demands for an independent audit of voter registrations in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, with both sides refusing to back down, this controversy has the potential to shape the narrative for the next phase of Indian politics.
