New Delhi [India], June 7 : Backing Rahul Gandhi's allegation of election rigging in Maharashtra polls, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday asked how 41 lakh new voters could be added to Maharashtra's voter list in the five months preceding the 2024 assembly elections in the state.
"Our questions are very clear... In five years from 2019 to 2024, 31 lakh new voters were added to the voter list in Maharashtra. How can 41 lakh new voters be added to the voter list in five months?" Khera asked.
Taling to ANI, he also raised questions over the "sharp rise" in polling percentage in Maharashtra polls after 5 pm.
"They are showing a provisional turnout of 58.22 per cent voting at 5 pm, and the final turnout is 66 per cent. How can there be an increase of 8 per cent?... They did not provide us with videography... How can new voters come from the same 12,000 booths where the BJP lost the Lok Sabha elections and the BJP won the assembly elections?" he asked.
He also slammed the Centre, asking why the Chief Justice of India was removed from the committee that selects the Chief Election Commissioner.
"Why was the Chief Justice of India removed from the committee that selects the Chief Election Commissioner?"
The Election Commission on Saturday described Rahul Gandhi's allegations relating to Maharashtra polls as an "affront to the rule of law".
"Unsubstantiated allegations raised against the electoral rolls of Maharashtra are affront to the rule of law. The Election Commission had brought out all these facts in its reply to the INC on 24th December 2024 itself, which is available on ECI's website. It appears that all these facts are completely being ignored while raising such issues again and again," ECI said.
"Any misinformation being spread, by anyone, is not only a sign of disrespect towards the Law, but also brings disrepute to the thousands of representatives appointed by their own political party and demotivates lakhs of election staff who work untiringly and transparently during elections. After any unfavourable verdict by the voters, trying to defame the Election Commission by saying that it is compromised, is completely absurd," it added.