Rahul Gandhi Yet To Lodge Formal Complaint With EC Over Maharashtra Poll 'Match-Fixing' Claim: Report

Amid the ongoing row over Rahul Gandhi's "match-fixing" allegation regarding last year's Maharashtra Assembly elections, sources within the Election Commission (EC) have disclosed that the Congress leader has not submitted a formal complaint or requested a meeting with the poll panel.

As per protocol, any constitutional authority-including the EC-will only respond formally once Rahul Gandhi puts his concerns in writing, sources told news agency PTI.

Photo Credit: @INCIndia via PTI Photo

They also noted that the Leader of the Opposition has not sought an appointment with the Commission even 24 hours after making his allegations of election "rigging" in the polls held in November last year.

Sources added that while Gandhi has publicly described the issues he's raising as "very serious," he has not taken the step of submitting them "in black and white" to the Election Commission.

They also highlighted that the Congress party was invited to meet with the EC on 15 May but had requested additional time.

According to sources within the poll body, Gandhi's comments have left the 10.5 lakh Booth Level Officers, 50 lakh Polling Officers, and 1 lakh Counting Supervisors deployed across the country disappointed, as the remarks call into question their "integrity and hard work".

In response to Gandhi's demand for access to CCTV footage, EC sources said, "As per instructions of the ECI, the CCTV footage of polling stations can always be scrutinised by the competent high court in any election petition."

They further added, "This is done by the ECI to protect the integrity of elections as well as to protect the privacy of voters. Why does Shri Rahul Gandhi himself or through his agents want to invade the privacy of voters, which is to be protected by the ECI as per electoral laws? Does Rahul Gandhi not trust even the High Courts now?"

On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections were a "blueprint for rigging democracy" and that this "match-fixing" would next be implemented in Bihar and elsewhere "anywhere the BJP is losing."

He also stressed that rigged elections were a "poison" to any democracy, stating: "The side that cheats may win the game, but it damages institutions and destroys public faith."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, accusing Gandhi of undermining democratic institutions to erode public trust in the electoral process, claiming he was doing so to pre-empt the Congress's anticipated loss in the upcoming elections, as he could not secure popular support.

(With PTI inputs)