Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Stolen Mandate’ Charge on Maharashtra Polls Draws Sharp BJP
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has ignited a fresh political firestorm with explosive allegations that the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were “rigged” by the BJP using a “blueprint to steal democracy.” In a detailed thread and op-ed titled “Match-Fixing Maharashtra,” Gandhi accused the BJP and the Election Commission of manipulating the electoral process through legal, digital, and procedural means. His claims—surfacing just months ahead of the crucial Bihar Assembly elections—have prompted sharp rebuttals from the BJP, including allegations of foreign influence, and a strongly worded clarification from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
As India enters a high-stakes electoral cycle leading into 2025, Gandhi’s claims and the BJP’s countercharge are not just about Maharashtra—they represent a broader battle for control over the democratic narrative.
Rahul Gandhi Alleges Maharashtra Polls Were Rigged Using ‘Blueprint to Steal Democracy’
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reignited political tensions by accusing the BJP of orchestrating a systematic rigging of the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. In a detailed five-step breakdown, Gandhi alleged that the BJP manipulated the election machinery by altering institutional frameworks and engineering voter data fraud. His first accusation targeted the 2023 legislation that removed the Chief Justice from the Election Commissioner selection panel, replacing them with a Union Minister. Gandhi termed this change an “umpire fix” meant to compromise the neutrality of the Election Commission.
How to steal an election?
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 7, 2025
Maharashtra assembly elections in 2024 were a blueprint for rigging democracy.
My article shows how this happened, step by step:
Step 1: Rig the panel for appointing the Election Commission
Step 2: Add fake voters to the roll
Step 3: Inflate voter… pic.twitter.com/ntCwtPVXTu
He further alleged that the voter rolls were artificially inflated with fake entries and that an unexplained 7.83% spike in turnout—equivalent to 76 lakh extra votes—was recorded after polling hours. This surge, he claimed, happened mostly in constituencies crucial for the BJP’s victory, raising suspicions of selective and strategic bogus voting. Gandhi also accused the Election Commission of aiding a post-poll cover-up by withholding raw booth-level data and disregarding complaints raised by the Opposition.
In a stark warning, Gandhi claimed that the so-called “Maharashtra model” is now the BJP’s template to subvert elections wherever it fears defeat, pointing directly to Bihar as the next potential target. With Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for later this year, his allegations have escalated into a broader narrative war, placing electoral integrity at the heart of the 2025 political battle.
BJP and Election Commission Reject Rigging Claims, Call Them Politically Motivated
The BJP and the Election Commission responded swiftly and aggressively.
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya dismissed Gandhi’s allegations as being “straight out of George Soros’ playbook,” referring to the billionaire often accused by nationalists of interfering in sovereign democracies. Malviya questioned why Rahul Gandhi only questions the electoral process when the Congress loses, pointing out his silence on victories in Karnataka and Telangana.
It is not that Rahul Gandhi doesn’t understand how the electoral process works. He does — very well.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 7, 2025
But his goal is not clarity, it is chaos. His repeated attempts to sow seeds of doubt and dissension in the minds of voters about our institutional processes are deliberate.… https://t.co/3rjRv0vlXo pic.twitter.com/gJVguW3huZ
Malviya also accused Gandhi of eroding public trust in Indian institutions, saying he is “deliberately sowing confusion” despite being fully aware of electoral procedures.
The Election Commission of India also issued a strongly worded rebuttal. The ECI called the allegations “completely absurd” and an “affront to the rule of law,” noting:
- A point-by-point clarification had already been issued on December 24, 2024, addressing the exact same concerns.
- No formal objections were raised by Congress polling agents during or after the vote counting.
- All party agents, including from Congress, signed off on the counting sheets, which were sealed and archived.
- The ECI emphasized that spreading misinformation demoralizes thousands of polling officials who conduct elections transparently.
The Commission also clarified that voter turnout updates often happen in tranches and final figures include postal ballots, which is normal procedure.
