Is the INDIA bloc Supporting Rahul Gandhi's Claims of 'Match-Fixing' in Elections?

New Delhi, June 7 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has garnered significant backing from allies in the INDIA bloc following his shocking claims of "match-fixing" in the upcoming 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

His editorial, released in a major national publication, has ignited a political uproar, with opposition figures asserting that the piece exposes the magnitude of electoral manipulation and the Election Commission's failure to address pressing concerns.

In his op-ed, Gandhi charged the BJP-led Mahayuti with orchestrating a vast rigging scheme to secure electoral victory, labeling it a systematic assault on democracy.

He reiterated previous concerns raised during his February 3 speech in Parliament and a press conference, emphasizing that the 2024 Maharashtra elections reflect an unparalleled extent of electoral misconduct.

In response to Gandhi's assertions, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari stated to IANS, "He hasn't introduced anything new. Under his and Mallikarjun Kharge's leadership, a delegation was previously dispatched. We have observed a dramatic increase in the vote disparity between the Parliament and Assembly elections, with almost all those votes going to the BJP."

"As voting approached its conclusion in the evening, turnout was low. However, by the next morning, it surged inexplicably. Rahul Gandhi has accurately described this as nothing less than the murder of democracy. The Election Commission has failed to provide satisfactory answers, but the public will react to this betrayal," he added.

NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule also expressed her support, mentioning, "This morning, I talked about the article with Sharad Pawar. The Congress has already raised this matter with the Election Commission, and we are closely monitoring their decisions."

Congress leader Udit Raj remarked that Gandhi's article was factual and noted that it is improbable for voter numbers to spike so dramatically in just a few months.

"It is based on facts. The Election Commission made compromises and added fake votes, with 36 to 37 lakh new entries to the electoral roll within just five months. Such a high number hadn't been seen in even five years, let alone four. The Election Commission has failed to provide any explanation. It is clearly a dishonest government," he told IANS.

He added, "When mock polling commenced, local authorities obstructed it. If they’re brave enough, let them conduct mock polling nationwide, and the truth will emerge. The BJP will realize they have lost in Haryana and Maharashtra."

Congress leader Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar supported Gandhi's claims, stating they were fact-based.

"He has written the truth. The Maharashtra elections were manipulated through match-fixing, and he has substantiated his claims with evidence. He has tracked the pattern since 2009. In this election, voter numbers increased by 9 percent, which is highly implausible. He cited Kamathi Assembly as an example, where votes rose by 17 to 18 thousand over five years — but surged by 35,000 in just five months," he noted.

RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari added, "What Rahul Gandhi is asserting is entirely accurate. The public is also discussing this — people believe the BJP manipulates elections, whether in Maharashtra or Bihar in 2020. Everyone witnessed how the mandate was leaning towards Tejashwi Yadav and the Mahagathbandhan, but it was overturned."

"Numerous examples raise questions about the credibility of the electoral process. The Election Commission must respond clearly and transparently to the concerns raised by the opposition," Tiwari told IANS.

Gujarat Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani also expressed support for the LoP, stating, "Many voter names were removed, and suddenly, lakhs of new voters appeared. We suspect EVM tampering as well. Even Mallikarjun Kharge has voiced this concern. These elections witnessed the abuse of funds, law enforcement, and agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax department. The RSS and BJP governments are distorting the entire election process in every conceivable way."

Gandhi's article, which he disseminated on social media, outlines what he describes as a systematic methodology employed by the BJP to skew the outcome — from manipulating the panel that appoints the Election Commission to inflating voter rolls and suppressing scrutiny of irregularities.

He termed the increase in voter turnout post-polling hours as "unprecedented," claiming that over 76 lakh additional votes were added without explanation, enabling the BJP to gain dominance in 85 pivotal constituencies.