New Delhi [India], June 21 : Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday once again accused the Election Commission of "match fixing" the elections, claiming that the new instructions to delete CCTV footage of the election after 45 days of polls is just a way to "delete evidence."
The Leader of Opposition raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, citing the destruction of evidence as a potential indicator of election rigging. He warned that a fixed election would be "poison for democracy," highlighting the need for a free and fair electoral process.
The Congress leader alleged that the CCTV footage is being hidden by changing the law, raising suspicions about the intentions behind this move.
"Voter list? Will not provide machine-readable format. CCTV footage? It was hidden by changing the law. Photo-video of the election? Now, not in 1 year, we will destroy it in 45 days only. The one from whom the answer was needed - is destroying the evidence. It is clear - the match is fixed. And a fixed election is poison for democracy," read a post by Rahul Gandhi on X.
https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/1936327577246855210
Earlier, the Election Commission had instructed its state officers to destroy footage of CCTV cameras and webcasting of the election process 45 days after the poll process is completed. The EC cited potential 'misuse' of its video data, saying that unless the election verdict is challenged within the time frame the footage will be deleted.
While posting the report by a news paper on the new rule, Rahul Gandhi also raised the issues he has talked about before, criticising the amendment brought out in December 2024 to limit public access to CCTV footage of the election process, once again citing the potential misuse of such data.
According to reports, the recent instructions by the EC were given in a letter to its state Chief Electoral Officers (CEO), saying that there has been "recent misuse" of its content by non-contestants for spreading misinformation, whichprompted a review of the rule. EC also reiterated that the video footage is not legally required to be kept but is used more as an internal tool for the poll panel.
"The recent misuse of this content by non-contestants for spreading misinformation and malicious narratives on social media by selective and out-of-context use of such content, which will not lead to any legal outcome, has prompted a review," the EC said in the letter.
Rahul Gandhi has previously called on the ECI to publish consolidated, digital, machine-readable voter rolls for the most recent elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas of all states, including Maharashtra, saying that "telling the truth" will protect the poll panel's credibility.
The poll panel, according to sources, said in response earlier that while the allegations raised by the Congress leader are quiet serious, but when it comes to penning them down in black and white to the Election Commission, he shies away.
"Rahul Gandhi has in fact ended up criticising the Booth Level Agents appointed by his own INC, Polling and Counting Agents appointed by his own INC candidates in Maharashtra," sources added.
On the former Congress President's demand for CCTV footage, the sources said, "As per instructions of the ECI, the CCTV footages of polling stations can always be scrutinised by the competent High Court in any election petition. 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?"
Rahul Gandhi has made numerous allegations against the poll panel, saying that the alleged increase of lakhs of voters in Maharashtra just within a few months of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections combined with the reluctance to publish machine readable electoral rolls among other issues has raised serious doubts on the credibility of the Commission.