A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought a response from the Election Commission (EC) on the allegations of rigging in the election in Maharashtra, the Election Commission sources said that the constitutional body would reply only when Gandhi will present formal communication as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. According to sources, the Election Commission contacted all six national parties for separate meetings in May as part of its activities after the election. While the remaining five parties met the Commission, the Congress canceled its scheduled negotiations on 15 May.
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On Saturday, Gandhi had intensified the criticism of the election body, accusing him of avoiding serious allegations. In an article, he accused of “match fixing” in Maharashtra elections and warned that there could be similar rigging where the BJP lost and anywhere. In response, Election Commission sources said that it was wrong to demand CCTV footage from polling stations in the evening in Maharashtra. According to the Election Commission protocol, CCTV footage is kept safe and it can be investigated by the competent High Court if the election petition is filed.
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A senior official said, “This is done to protect both the integrity of the election process and the secrecy of the voters. Why does Rahul Gandhi want to violate the secrecy of the voters, which protects the Election Commission is responsible for the Election Laws?” Sources also said that Gandhi’s charge of tampering voter lists indirectly raises doubts on the Congress booth level and counting agents appointed in the constituencies. “Instead of publicly accusing them, they should rely on the legal measures given under the courts and the election law,” the official said.