During his ongoing outreach to the Indian diaspora in the United States, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sparked a fresh political storm by questioning the integrity of India’s electoral process. Speaking in Boston, Gandhi leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission of India, suggesting that the institution has been “compromised” and citing what he described as glaring irregularities during the Maharashtra assembly elections.
In a pointed remark during his speech, Gandhi claimed that voter numbers in Maharashtra had inexplicably surged by 65 lakh within a span of just two hours, suggesting that more people had voted than the state’s total population. “The Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 p.m., and by 7:30 p.m., an additional 65 lakh votes were registered. It is physically impossible,” he asserted. Describing the development as symptomatic of a deeper malaise in the democratic machinery, he stated, “It’s very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised. There is something very wrong with the system.”
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks have drawn attention at a time when electoral integrity is under increasing scrutiny, not just in India but globally. His comments were framed within a broader narrative of concern about the erosion of democratic institutions, and he appeared to target what he views as a coordinated effort to undermine fair elections through manipulation of systems and data.
The Election Commission, however, has rejected such allegations in earlier statements, reiterating its commitment to transparency and accuracy. According to official sources, there was no significant challenge raised during the latest Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls published in January 2025. Despite the vast network of over 1.38 crore Booth Level Agents (BLAs) across India, only 89 appeals were recorded in Maharashtra seeking corrections, deletions, or inclusions. This low number, officials argue, reinforces the credibility of the updated electoral rolls, and indicates that there was no large-scale objection from political stakeholders during the process.
The SSR exercise, which is a critical component of India’s electoral system, is conducted regularly to add new eligible voters—particularly those turning 18—and to remove duplicates or names of deceased individuals. It provides every political party ample opportunity to raise objections and ensure voter roll accuracy before elections. The absence of substantial appeals has been taken by electoral authorities as an implicit endorsement of the rolls’ authenticity.
Nevertheless, Gandhi’s criticism has brought renewed political attention to electoral data transparency, a subject that could become a key issue in upcoming parliamentary sessions and campaigns. For his part, Rahul Gandhi used the platform in Boston to highlight not only concerns about domestic democracy but also India’s strategic relationships abroad. Emphasizing India’s evolving role on the global stage, he acknowledged the strong bilateral partnership with the United States and expressed hope for deeper collaboration going forward. “We have a partnership with the US, and hopefully we will continue to work together,” he remarked.
He also took a moment to thank the Indian community in the US for carrying forward the values and ideals of the Congress Party overseas. “You are ambassadors of our democracy and our heritage. Carrying the Congress flag and ideology across the oceans is no small feat,” he said, expressing appreciation to diaspora supporters.
As political discourse heats up ahead of the next general elections, such comments by senior opposition leaders are expected to further intensify debates over institutional independence, electoral reform, and the credibility of democratic processes in the world’s largest democracy.
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