Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 7: The BJP has launched a strong counterattack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, rejecting his “match-fixing” claims regarding the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections and dismissing them as baseless excuses to cover anticipated defeats in other states, especially Bihar.
Rahul Gandhi, in an opinion piece and on social media, accused the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance of orchestrating industrial-scale rigging in Maharashtra, alleging voter roll manipulations, suspiciously high turnout after polling hours, and a lack of transparency from the Election Commission. He reiterated concerns raised in his February 3 Parliament speech, warning of a systematic subversion of democracy.
BJP leaders swiftly denounced Gandhi’s remarks as unfounded and politically motivated. Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Ramdas Kadam called Gandhi’s allegations “nonsense,” adding, “No one is taking him seriously. With civic polls around the corner, he’s preparing excuses in advance.”
BJP MLA Ram Kadam compared Gandhi’s remarks to a student making excuses after failing an exam: “When they win, EVMs are fine; when they lose, it’s rigging. If he has proof, why not go to court?” he asked, accusing Gandhi of disrespecting the Constitution.
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi echoed this sentiment, saying Gandhi’s remarks reflect “acceptance of defeat” in Bihar: “Those who fear losing often make such claims.”
Karnataka BJP MLA Arvind Bellad offered a scathing rebuke: “It’s time for him to grow up and speak responsibly. He lacks credibility — not just with the media but with the common man.”
BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat also took aim at Gandhi’s leadership, saying, “Congress was once the largest party in the country and is now struggling to stay relevant. The problem lies with their ideology, not the EVMs.” She accused Gandhi of leaving the country during key elections and criticized him for “making statements against the nation.”
BJP National Spokesperson R.P. Singh said Gandhi’s comments reveal “panic” after his Bihar visit. “Why doesn’t he make such allegations when Congress or its allies win in Telangana, Karnataka, or Bengal?” he asked.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari said, “The people of Bihar have clearly rejected the Congress. Rahul Gandhi’s tone reflects fear of another defeat.”
In his article, Gandhi alleged that the BJP manipulated the appointment process for the Election Commission, inflated voter rolls, and allowed suspiciously high voting after polling hours, with over 76 lakh “extra votes” boosting BJP wins in 85 critical seats.
Despite these claims, BJP leaders dismissed Gandhi’s statements as attempts to deflect blame from Congress’ electoral struggles and insisted that the elections were fair.