Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has raised serious concerns regarding voter discrepancies in the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections. At a joint press conference with NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, Gandhi questioned how 9.7 crore votes were cast when the state’s adult population stands at 9.54 crore. He emphasized that his party is not accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of misconduct but is seeking transparency and the final voter list. Pointing to an unusual spike in voter registrations, he noted that 32 lakh new voters were added between the 2019 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, while an additional 39 lakh voters were registered in just five months between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2024. He highlighted these figures in Parliament, yet the ECI has not provided a satisfactory response.
In reaction to Gandhi’s claims, the Election Commission issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to transparency and its willingness to provide a written response addressing all concerns. The ECI stated that political parties are key stakeholders in the electoral process and that it values their questions and feedback. The Commission had previously addressed similar concerns in December 2024, explaining that 48.8 lakh new voters were added while 8 lakh were removed, resulting in a net increase of over 40 lakh electors. According to the ECI, the surge in voter numbers is primarily due to an amendment in the Representation of the People Act, which introduced four qualifying dates for new voters annually—January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. The ECI further clarified that a significant portion of the new voters belonged to the 18-29 age group, signaling greater youth participation in the democratic process.
Despite the ECI’s response, the Congress party remains skeptical, demanding “raw data” on the 39 lakh new voters added to Maharashtra’s electoral rolls. The party argues that the voter increase in just five months is unprecedented and requires further scrutiny. The issue has sparked political debate, with opposition leaders alleging potential electoral mismanagement or discrepancies. Meanwhile, Gandhi has taken to social media, reiterating his concerns and questioning why more voters were added in five months than in five years. The controversy surrounding Maharashtra’s electoral rolls is expected to intensify as opposition parties push for greater transparency, while the ECI maintains that its voter registration processes adhere strictly to established legal and procedural frameworks.
