Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP, made a strong allegation against India’s Election Commission (EC) during his address to members of the Indian diaspora in Boston on Sunday, claiming that the body is “compromised” and accusing the electoral system of being fundamentally flawed.
Gandhi cited the example of the Maharashtra assembly elections, asserting that the number of voters reported by the Election Commission was “physically impossible.” He elaborated, stating that in a span of just two hours, the voter turnout surged by 65 lakh, a claim which he said raises serious doubts about the legitimacy of the polling process.
“More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact… the Election Commission gave us a figure in the evening around 5:30 pm, and in two hours around 7:30 pm, 65 lakh voters had voted, which is physically impossible,” Gandhi said. “It’s very clear to us that the Election Commission is compromised, there is something very wrong with the system,” he added, voicing his deep concern over the credibility of the electoral process.
This is not the first time Gandhi has raised doubts about the Election Commission’s credibility. He, along with other opposition leaders, has repeatedly questioned the independence and integrity of the poll body. However, Election Commission sources have previously dismissed these allegations as unfounded. In response to claims of manipulated electoral rolls, the EC stated that the Special Summary Revision (SSR) published in January 2025 was conducted with minimal appeals or corrections. Officials also emphasized that the final electoral rolls in Maharashtra, with 13.8 million Booth Level Agents monitoring the process, should be considered undisputed.
Despite the official stance, Gandhi remains steadfast in his criticism, calling for greater scrutiny and reform in India’s election system.
During the same address, Gandhi also touched on India-US relations, expressing optimism for continued cooperation between the two nations. He highlighted the importance of the Indian diaspora and thanked them for their unwavering support of India abroad, urging them to carry the flag of India with pride. “You believe, you listen to other people, and you respect them,” he said, adding that the contributions of the diaspora play a powerful role in strengthening India’s global standing.
Gandhi is also scheduled to deliver an address at Brown University on Monday as part of his ongoing US visit, continuing his international engagement with various political and academic audiences.
