Poll panel rejects Rahul Gandhi's rigging allegation, invites him for discussion
The Election Commission of India (EC) invited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for an in-person meeting to discuss his allegations that last year's Maharashtra Assembly polls were rigged.In a letter emailed to Gandhi on June 12, the EC responded to an article Gandhi published in a leading daily, in which he accused the poll panel of failing to ensure free and fair elections in Maharashtra. The election watchdog dismissed the allegations, asserting that the electoral process was conducted strictly in accordance with laws passed by Parliament.advertisement"The election process is carried out in a decentralised manner at the assembly constituency level," the EC wrote. "The entire poll exercise involves thousands of personnel, including booth-level agents appointed by political parties."
Gandhi has repeatedly alleged that the Maharashtra polls, won by the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, were marred by irregularities and rigging. He slammed the EC's decision to reduce the retention period of election-related video footage and photographs to 45 days, claiming that it could facilitate the destruction of evidence.In its letter, the EC told Gandhi, "We presume that any issue regarding conduct of elections would have already been raised through election petitions filed in the competent court of law (high court) by Congress candidates."It added, "However, if you still have any issues, you are welcome to write to us and the Commission is also willing to meet you in person at a mutually convenient date and time to discuss all issues."advertisementGandhi had also sought more transparency from the EC, asking it to publish consolidated, digital voter rolls for the 2024 Lok Sabha and all state assembly elections, including Maharashtra, and to release CCTV footage from polling booths recorded after 5 p.m. on election day.Responding to these demands, the EC issued a detailed rebuttal, citing voter privacy and security concerns. It said sharing raw video footage would compromise voters' rights and expose them to possible 'pressure, discrimination and intimidation by anti-social elements.'The poll panel reiterated that the electoral framework has built-in mechanisms for redressal and that concerns should be pursued through legal channels.- EndsMust Watch
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