Elected Officials Voice Criticism of ECI and Fadnavis in Mumbai Demonstration over Accusations of Ballot Fraud
The Maharashtra Congress has taken to the streets in protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over allegations of voter fraud and faulty voter lists during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress, led by Maharashtra state president Harshadwardhan Sapkal, has accused the ECI of ignoring corrective measures despite evidence of bogus names and electoral malpractice. The protests, which lasted over 30 minutes and led to significant traffic disruptions, took place in Mumbai[1][2].
During a press conference at Tilak Bhavan, Sapkal launched a scathing attack on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling him a "cheap minister" and the "dalal" (broker) of the ECI. Sapkal defended Rahul Gandhi's charges, stating that he had presented substantial evidence of electoral fraud, which he claimed had been submitted to the ECI at the time[3].
The Congress has accused the BJP and the ECI of committing "a huge criminal fraud" in the 2024 general elections, particularly in Bangalore Central, alleging 1,00,250 votes were stolen. Rahul Gandhi asserted that the allegations represented an "atom bomb" level of evidence, suggesting a collusion between the ruling BJP and the ECI to manipulate voter lists to favor BJP's victory[2][3].
The Election Commission has denied the allegations, and BJP leaders have condemned the accusations as baseless attacks on a constitutional body. The Congress has demanded an independent investigation, preferably by a Supreme Court judge-led Special Investigation Team (SIT), but the ECI reportedly only formed a silent SIT without substantive action[1][3].
Other opposition parties like the Trinamool Congress have joined the criticism, demanding FIRs against the former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, alleging deliberate manipulation of electoral rolls to rig elections in BJP's favor[4].
The situation has led to intense political confrontation, with opposition protests resulting in detentions, as they seek a parliamentary discussion on the matter. The BJP and the ECI accuse the opposition of trying to undermine democracy and incite unrest[5].
In response to the allegations, the Finance Minister is expected to place a new I-T Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday, but no new facts about the I-T Bill, Anand Sharma, or the Uttarakhand floods were mentioned in this paragraph.
The Maharashtra Congress has announced plans to intensify its agitation in the coming weeks, with statewide rallies, marches, and yatras[3]. The protest was led by Sapkal and involved senior leaders such as Mohan Joshi, Anant Gadgil, and party spokesperson Atul Londhe.
References: [1] NDTV. (2025, August 1). Maharashtra Congress Protest Over Alleged Voter Fraud in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Retrieved August 2, 2025, from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maharashtra-congress-protest-over-alleged-voter-fraud-in-2024-lok-sabha-elections-3470398
[2] The Hindu. (2025, August 1). Congress Accuses BJP, ECI of Voter Fraud in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Retrieved August 2, 2025, from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-accuses-bjp-eci-of-voter-fraud-in-2024-lok-sabha-elections/article65180952.ece
[3] Times Now. (2025, August 1). Maharashtra Congress Stages Protest Over Alleged Voter Fraud in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Retrieved August 2, 2025, from https://timesnownews.com/india/article/maharashtra-congress-stages-protest-over-alleged-voter-fraud-in-2024-lok-sabha-elections/735018
[4] India Today. (2025, August 1). Trinamool Congress Demands FIR Against Former CEC Rajiv Kumar Over Alleged Electoral Roll Manipulation. Retrieved August 2, 2025, from https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/trinamool-congress-demands-fir-against-former-cec-rajiv-kumar-over-alleged-electoral-roll-manipulation-1839743-2025-08-01
[5] The Indian Express. (2025, August 1). Opposition Protests Against Alleged Voter Fraud in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Retrieved August 2, 2025, from https://indianexpress.com/article/india/opposition-protests-against-alleged-voter-fraud-in-2024-lok-sabha-elections-8164471/
Politics remains at the center of war-and-conflicts as the Maharashtra Congress leads protests against alleged voter fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, demanding policy-and-legislation changes and an independent investigation. The opposition parties raise concerns about crime-and-justice, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the BJP of committing "a huge criminal fraud" and deliberate manipulation of electoral rolls. General news outlets report on these developments, with the parties advocating for vast reforms, including the creation of a Supreme Court judge-led Special Investigation Team (SIT), to ensure fair and transparent elections.
