New Delhi [India], August 3 : Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai has backed the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's claim that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was rigged. He said that the LoP will" bring many things to light" to substantiate his claims.
"Rahul Gandhi has been consistently saying that the institution (Election Commission) in which the entire country had faith, today is facing various allegations. I think this is unfortunate," Rai told ANI.
"Rahul Gandhi has said the right thing... He will soon bring many things to light," he added.
Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asserted that the election system in India was "already dead," alleging that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "rigged" and that he has proof to substantiate the claim.
Addressing the annual legal conclave titled 'Constitutional Challenges - Perspectives & Pathways', Gandhi said that he suspected over 80 Lok Sabha seats were rigged in the 2024 general elections.
"The truth is that the election system in India is already dead. The Prime Minister of India holds office with a very slim majority. If 15 seats were rigged, we suspect that the number is over 70 to 80, he would not have been the Prime Minister of India. We are going to prove to you in the coming few days how a Lok Sabha election can be rigged and was rigged," Gandhi said while addressing the gathering in the national capital.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India on Saturday claimed that Rahul Gandhi is yet to respond to its June letter regarding his allegations of "election rigging" in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The EC said the Congress leader has not responded to an official invitation extended to him nearly two months ago. "Why? Is it because his media statements were baseless?" ECI sources asked.
In a letter dated June 12, the Election Commission had invited the Leader of the Opposition for an interaction regarding "rigging" in Maharashtra Assembly elections, he raised in a write-up that he wrote for a newspaper on June 7. He had claimed that the same will be repeated in the Bihar assembly polls due later this year.
The June 12 letter reads, "We presume that any issue regarding conduct of elections would have already been raised through election petitions filed in the competent court of law by the INC candidates. 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. A convenient date and time may be communicated in this regard at the email ID."