New Delhi, June 21, 2025 — In a sharp escalation of his criticism against the Election Commission of India (ECI), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the poll body of destroying evidence rather than answering legitimate questions about alleged irregularities in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held earlier this year.

In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Mr. Gandhi alleged that the ECI was intentionally deleting crucial election data and footage, implying a cover-up of possible electoral malpractice.

"Voter list? Will not give machine-readable format. CCTV footage? Hidden by changing the law. Election photos and videos? Now they will be deleted in 45 days, not 1 year," Gandhi wrote.

"The one who was supposed to provide answers is the one deleting the evidence. Match is fixed."

The post comes in the backdrop of a controversial directive by the Election Commission instructing all returning officers to destroy CCTV, webcasting and other video footage related to the elections 45 days after the date of polling, significantly reducing the previous retention period of one year.

📑 Backdrop: Congress’ Demand for Transparency

The Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi, has been demanding access to machine-readable electoral rolls, CCTV footage, and polling station videos from various constituencies in Maharashtra, where it has alleged instances of ballot tampering, duplicate votes, and manipulated turnout data.

Senior Congress leaders have filed formal applications and Right to Information (RTI) requests, but claim to have faced stonewalling and denial from the poll panel.

Sources within the party say that the deletion of video evidence under the new 45-day rule has made them suspect institutional complicity, and Rahul Gandhi’s post is meant to escalate pressure on the Commission ahead of the upcoming state elections.

🏛️ Election Commission’s Rule Change Raises Questions

Earlier this month, the Election Commission of India quietly updated its procedural manual, reducing the mandatory preservation period of CCTV and video footage captured during polling from one year to just 45 days. The change, officials claimed, was meant to reduce data storage and operational burden on the states and districts.

However, legal experts and transparency advocates have expressed concern that the shortened timeline undermines transparency and post-poll audit capabilities, especially when allegations arise after election results are declared.

“In a democracy, evidence must be preserved long enough for independent verification,” said constitutional law expert Prof. K.V. Raghavan.
“Forty-five days is hardly enough when election disputes can take weeks to even be filed.”

🔍 Accusations of Electoral Malpractice in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Assembly elections held in March–April 2025 saw the Congress and INDIA bloc alleging widespread irregularities, especially in constituencies such as Thane, Nagpur Central, and Beed, where vote margins were razor-thin.

Congress candidates in several areas lost by fewer than 2,000 votes, and the party claims that voter turnout data doesn’t match up with polling booth video logs, which they say they are now unable to access.

A senior Congress spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:

“We had asked the EC for CCTV footage from specific booths in Thane district. Initially, we were told the data existed. Now we are being told it was deleted. It’s not just suspicious — it’s damning.”

🗣️ Opposition Reacts: 'Democracy Being Undermined'

Mr. Gandhi’s comments have drawn strong support from fellow opposition leaders. Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, and Mallikarjun Kharge echoed the concerns on social media, calling the EC’s deletion order an attempt to erase digital evidence.

“First the electoral bonds opacity, now CCTV footage gone in 45 days. Where does transparency in Indian democracy exist anymore?” asked Kejriwal in a post.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav added that the pattern of shrinking transparency and central interference in institutions is becoming “deeply worrying.”

🔥 BJP Hits Back: ‘Rahul Trying to Undermine Institutions’

In response, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed Gandhi’s accusations as “baseless” and accused the Congress of “undermining constitutional institutions.”

“Rahul Gandhi is attacking the Election Commission just because his party lost. He has no evidence of any malpractice. He wants to discredit India’s democracy when it doesn’t suit him,” Prasad said at a press briefing in Delhi.

The BJP has maintained that the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner, and that Congress’ narrative is driven by its electoral setbacks, not facts.

📂 Legal Options and RTI Appeals

Congress sources say they will file a formal petition in the Supreme Court seeking to stay the deletion of polling station footage and demand an independent audit of EC's data handling procedures.

A senior advocate in the Congress legal cell told The Hindu that CCTV data is crucial evidence, and its premature destruction could “potentially amount to obstruction of justice.”

🕵️ Concerns Over Election Data Integrity

Election watchdogs, including Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Common Cause, have long advocated for longer preservation of election data, including:

• Booth-level voter turnout data

• Video recordings of polling stations

• Form 17C (record of votes cast)

• EVM movement logs

Many of these are often not shared publicly despite legal obligations.

“Without public access to polling station videos, there’s no way to cross-check how votes were cast or counted,” said Prof. Jagdeep Chhokar of ADR.

🧾 What the Law Says

While there is no explicit constitutional mandate on video retention periods, Section 28A of the Representation of the People Act, and ECI’s own instructions, allow it to set operational guidelines. However, any changes that impact evidence preservation in cases of alleged malpractice may invite judicial scrutiny, especially if perceived to suppress vital proof.

⚖️ Next Steps and Political Implications

Rahul Gandhi's frontal attack on the Election Commission has once again brought the neutrality and transparency of electoral processes into sharp public focus. As state elections approach in Bihar, Haryana, and Delhi, these concerns are likely to resonate deeply with opposition voters, particularly youth and first-time voters active on social media.

The Congress is expected to:

• Move court to halt footage deletion.

• Launch a mass awareness campaign on the issue.

• Press for EC accountability in the next session of Parliament.

📝 Conclusion

Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the "match is fixed" reflects more than just a political jibe — it speaks to a growing distrust between opposition parties and democratic institutions in India. Whether the Election Commission responds with clarity or courts intervene to halt the destruction of potential evidence, the spotlight on electoral transparency is unlikely to dim any time soon.

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