Rahul Gandhi Questions Maharashtra Voter List | Aakhir Tak

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

1. Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about discrepancies in Maharashtra’s voter list.
2. He claimed the number of voters exceeds the state’s adult population.
3. Gandhi questioned the addition of 3.9 million new voters between Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
4. The Election Commission of India has promised a written response.
5. Congress made similar allegations last year after election results.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged discrepancies in the voter list of Maharashtra, where the Congress-led alliance suffered losses in the recent elections. Gandhi claimed the number of voters was higher than the state’s eligible adult population. Addressing a press conference alongside Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule, Gandhi highlighted the addition of 3.9 million new voters in Maharashtra within five months between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the voter list.

Highlighting the alleged discrepancy, Gandhi pointed to a significant increase in voter numbers within a short timeframe. He stated that the opposition had uncovered “many irregularities” after a detailed examination of the voter lists. Citing government data, the Congress MP noted that while 95.4 million people were eligible to vote in Maharashtra, 97 million individuals cast their ballots in the Assembly polls. The voter list discrepancies are cause for concern.

“In the five years between the 2019 Vidhan Sabha elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 3.2 million voters were added. However, in just five months between the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the Vidhan Sabha elections, 3.9 million voters were added. The question is, who are these 3.9 million voters? That is equivalent to the total number of voters in Himachal Pradesh. Secondly, why are there more voters in Maharashtra than the entire voting population of the state?” Gandhi questioned. The voter list issue demands a thorough investigation.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) swiftly responded, stating it would address Gandhi’s allegations in writing. “The ECI considers political parties as priority stakeholders. It deeply values views, suggestions, and questions coming from political parties. The commission will respond in writing with a full factual and procedural matrix uniformly adopted across the country,” the poll watchdog stated. The ECI’s response to the voter list concerns is awaited.

While the Maharashtra Vikas Agadi (MVA) achieved an unexpected victory by securing 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha elections, their seat count dwindled to a mere 49 out of 288 in the Assembly polls. The Congress party had previously raised similar concerns last year, shortly after the election results were announced. A Congress delegation met with Election Commission officials to request “raw data” pertaining to the 3.9 million voters added to the rolls.

In response, the poll body released data indicating 4,881,620 additions and 800,391 deletions from the voter list. This resulted in a net increase of 4,081,229 electors in Maharashtra between the Lok Sabha polls and the Assembly election. The voter list is constantly being updated.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• Rahul Gandhi questioned discrepancies in Maharashtra’s voter list.
• He highlighted the addition of 3.9 million voters in a short period.
• The Election Commission promised to respond in writing to the allegations.
• Congress made similar allegations in the past.
• The matter is currently under scrutiny.

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