Mumbai: The Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 results have stirred controversy as the Congress party has alleged serious irregularities in the voting and counting process. On Friday, November 29, 2024, the party submitted a formal letter to the Election Commission (EC), raising concerns and requesting a detailed inquiry into the matter. Congress has also demanded a personal hearing on the issue.
The Congress claims that “voter lists were manipulated, with genuine voters removed without valid reasons and over 10,000 new voters added to every constituency.” According to the party, approximately 4.7 million new voters were added across Maharashtra between July and November 2024. The party alleges that this process was deliberately carried out to influence the election results.
Highlighting specific constituencies, Congress stated that “50 constituencies saw an average addition of 50,000 new voters each, where the ruling alliance and its allies secured massive victories.” Furthermore, the party questioned the EC’s data, especially regarding an alleged spike of 7.6 million votes recorded within a single hour on November 21, 2024, between 5 PM and 6 PM. Congress termed this occurrence suspicious and called for a detailed investigation.
Adding to the controversy, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He said, “We must revert to ballot paper voting as public trust in EVMs has significantly eroded.”
In the Maharashtra elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a resounding victory, winning 230 out of 288 seats. BJP bagged 132 seats, Shiv Sena won 57, and NCP secured 41 seats. On the other hand, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major setback, managing only 46 seats, with Congress reducing to a mere 16 seats.
Congress’s allegations have intensified the debate surrounding election transparency. With the Election Commission initiating a probe, the possibility of changes in the election outcomes cannot be entirely ruled out. This development raises questions about electoral fairness and accountability in one of India’s most politically significant states.
