‘Something Wrong…’ Rahul Gandhi On Election Commission In US, BJP Hits Back

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking in the US, alleged serious irregularities in Maharashtra’s voter turnout data, triggering strong reactions from BJP leaders who accused him of defaming India abroad.

During a public address in Boston on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi claimed that Maharashtra saw an implausible addition of 65 lakh votes within two hours after polling ended. He questioned the integrity of the Election Commission of India (ECI), calling it “compromised” and stating, “More people voted than the total number of people in the state, which is physically impossible.”

Gandhi said the ECI initially released voting data around 5:30 pm, which suddenly saw a massive spike by 7:30 pm. “There’s something very wrong with the system,” he remarked, drawing loud reactions from his diaspora audience.

Gandhi’s remarks were met with fierce criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused him of spreading misinformation and maligning Indian democracy on foreign soil.

“Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP’s national spokesperson, said in a video, “Rahul Gandhi always insults the Constitution of India while on his trips to other countries… some people have now become anti-India.”

BJP’s CR Kesavan termed Gandhi’s foreign visit as a “Bharat Badnam Yatra” and said, “He is peddling lies and trying to undermine the Election Commission, even though leaders like Donald Trump have praised India’s electoral system.”

Shiv Sena’s Raju Waghmare escalated the rhetoric further, questioning Gandhi’s nationality and warning him against “assassinating the country’s character.”

Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar accused Congress of selective outrage. “Where they win, EVMs and EC are good. Where they lose, they raise doubts,” he said.

In his speech, Gandhi also expressed hope for continued strong ties between India and the United States, calling the relationship a valuable partnership.

He thanked members of the Indian diaspora for supporting Congress values abroad, saying, “You believe, you listen to other people, and you respect them. That’s what Congress stands for.”

This is not the first time Gandhi has faced criticism for his statements abroad. His previous comments in the UK Parliament and US think tanks have also drawn rebuke from Indian political circles, who argue that domestic issues should not be aired internationally.