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Rahul Gandhi Slams Jaishankar Over Operation Sindoor; MEA Fires Back
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has formally dismissed Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of poll rigging in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. In a letter sent to Gandhi on June 12, the ECI affirmed that the elections were conducted in strict compliance with parliamentary laws and established procedures.
The ECI emphasised that the election process was highly decentralised and managed at the Assembly constituency level. The Commission noted the involvement of over 1,00,186 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), 288 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 139 General Observers, 41 Police Observers, 71 Expenditure Observers, and 288 Returning Officers (ROs). It also highlighted that political parties, including the Indian National Congress (INC), appointed a total of 1,08,026 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) across Maharashtra, of which 28,421 were Congress representatives.
“We presume that any issue regarding the conduct of elections would have already been raised through election petitions filed in the competent court of law (high court) by the INC candidates,” the letter states. “However, if you still have any issues, you are welcome to write to us. The Commission is also willing to meet you in person at a mutually convenient date and time to discuss all issues.”
Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer also addressed the matter via social media on Tuesday, affirming that during the Second Special Summary Revision in 2024—conducted ahead of the Assembly elections—draft and final electoral rolls for all 288 Assembly constituencies were shared with representatives of all recognised parties, including the INC. A total of 19,27,508 claims and objections were received between the draft and final publication, and by law, appeals could be filed against wrongful additions or deletions to the rolls. Only 89 appeals were submitted, the CEO added.
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