Rahul Gandhi's sensational allegation on Election Commission: 'Conspiracy to destroy evidence, match is fixed!'

On June 21, 2025, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi levelled serious allegations against the Election Commission (ECI) and termed it as part of "match fixing". He claimed that the commission was deliberately destroying crucial evidence related to the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, such as CCTV footage, webcasting and voter list data. The controversy started when the commission issued a directive that if the election results were not challenged in court within 45 days, these records would be destroyed. Let us analyse the matter based on facts.

Rahul Gandhi's allegations: 'Poison for democracy'

Rahul Gandhi wrote on social media platform X, "Voter list? Will not be given in machine-readable format. CCTV footage? Hidden by changing the law. Election photos and videos? Now not in 1 year, will be deleted in 45 days. The one who wanted an answer is the one who is deleting the evidence. It is clearly visible - the match is fixed. And a fixed election is poison for democracy."

He specifically alleged irregularities in the Maharashtra assembly elections, for which he had earlier written an article in a newspaper claiming alleged manipulation at 12,000 booths. Rahul says that the Commission's new policy is an attempt to end transparency and avoid accountability.

Election Commission's response: Privacy or excuse?

The Election Commission rejected Rahul's allegations and said that making CCTV footage public could be a threat to the privacy and security of voters. Sources in the Commission said that keeping the footage for more than 45 days is not logical as it may reveal the identity of voters, making them a target of anti-social elements.

The Commission also said that the footage is only for internal monitoring and can be shared only on the orders of the court. The ECI claimed that this policy is in line with the Representation of the People Act and the Supreme Court's directions.

Political stir and controversy

Rahul's allegations have sparked a heated debate in political circles. The Congress called it a conspiracy against democracy, while the BJP called it the opposition's frustration over the defeat. Election Commission sources indicated that Rahul's demand may be "politically motivated", aimed at harassing voters at poorly performing booths.

Conclusion

This confrontation between Rahul Gandhi and the Election Commission raises questions about transparency and the credibility of democracy. While Rahul is calling it a threat to democracy by calling it "match fixing", the Commission considers it a step to protect privacy. This controversy can raise big questions on the electoral process and transparency in the future.