Absurd: EC on Rahul’s remarks, BJP seeks answers to ED charges
Countering Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations on the poll body being compromised, the Election Commission on Tuesday said all his charges in regards the Maharashtra elections were unsubstantiated and absurd.
Noting that due processes and law were followed in the state elections, the EC said unsubstantiated allegations raised against the electoral rolls of Maharashtra were an affront to the rule of law.
“Attempt to defame the Election Commission by saying that it is compromised, after an unfavourable verdict by the voters, is completely absurd,” the EC sources added.
The EC’s counter to Gandhi came even as the BJP demanded that the Congress must come clean on corruption charges, levelled by the ED in the National Herald case.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, “Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, targeting the Election Commission, indicate that the Congress is willing to attack India’s institutions to deflect the National Herald issue.”
He said, “While the Congress claims credit for India’s independence, Rahul questions India’s democracy on foreign soil and seeks foreign interference in Indian democracy.”
He further asked the Congress leader, “Why does he not respond to charges about fake entries, advance rents and suspicious donations, which are mentioned in the ED chargesheet in the Herald case?”
Speaking in Boston yesterday, Rahul said more people voted in the Maharashtra Assembly elections than there were adults in the state.
“The EC gave us a voting figure for 5.30 pm, and between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm, 65 lakh voters voted. This is physically impossible. When we asked for videos, they not only refused but also changed the law so that now we are not allowed to ask for the videography. It is very clear that the EC is compromised,” Rahul alleged.\
Poll body’s rebuttal
- 65L voting in two hours is lower than the general average of 58L per hour (making it 116L per two hours) on Maha poll day
- Voting happened before party polling agents of Congress; and no one complained then
- Revised electoral rolls were given to the Congress as per law
- After finalisation of rolls in Maharashtra, only 89 appeals were filed against the total of 9,77,90,752 electors. There was no Congress grievance
- Booth level agents of all parties were appointed
- EC gave all facts to Congress on December 24, 2024
India