The Election Commission (EC) has strongly refuted allegations made by opposition parties regarding manipulation and discrepancies in the electoral rolls, particularly in Maharashtra, ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections.
During the winter session of Parliament, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had demanded a detailed discussion on the electoral rolls. He claimed that nearly three million voters had been added in Maharashtra between 2019 and 2024. Similar concerns about voter list duplication and inconsistencies in Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers were echoed by the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.
However, EC sources have dismissed these claims as unfounded and lacking factual basis. According to officials, only 89 appeals were submitted in Maharashtra under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, during the Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise published on January 6-7, 2025. The revision is a routine pre-election process that updates the voter rolls by including new eligible voters and removing ineligible or duplicate entries.
“With over 13.8 million Booth Level Agents (BLAs) involved across the country, receiving just 89 appeals for changes in the electoral rolls in Maharashtra clearly indicates that the process was transparent and largely uncontested,” said a senior EC official.
The EC underscored that Section 24 of the RP Act—enacted in 1961—provides ample legal remedy for individuals to challenge errors in the voter list. “If someone questions the validity of the electoral rolls after voting has taken place but hasn’t even used the appeals process, it shows a lack of regard for due legal procedure,” the official added.
Sources also reiterated that duplication of EPIC numbers does not necessarily indicate the presence of fake or duplicate voters, a clarification the EC has consistently made in past election cycles.
With upcoming elections in Bihar and other states, opposition parties are expected to continue raising the issue. However, the Election Commission stands by its data and the integrity of its electoral roll management, suggesting that the voter lists finalized after the January 2025 SSR should be considered final and undisputed.
