'Democracy Hijacked, EC Compromised': Congress Hits Back At Fadnavis Over BJP’s Role In 2019 Maharashtra Elections

Mumbai: The political atmosphere in Maharashtra has grown tense as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing it of orchestrating electoral fraud in the 2019 Assembly elections. The backlash follows a strongly worded article by Gandhi—Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha—raising serious concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.

His allegations appear to have rattled the ruling BJP, prompting a counter-article by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, which has only intensified the war of words.

“Rahul Raised Questions for the EC, Why is Fadnavis Answering?”

Addressing a press conference at Tilak Bhavan, Maharashtra Congress President Harsvardhan Sapkal questioned the BJP’s reaction.

“Rahul Gandhi asked the Election Commission to explain the irregularities. Instead of the Commission, Devendra Fadnavis is answering. Why? Is he the official spokesperson of the EC?” Sapkal asked, calling Fadnavis’s response “laughable and misleading.”

He alleged that Fadnavis and the BJP are the primary beneficiaries of the electoral manipulation.

“They’re acting like culprits who are now offering explanations. Their answers are shallow and politically motivated,” he said.

Drawing a sharp metaphor, Sapkal added, “Don’t act like Ramshastri when your governance is akin to Ghashiram Kotwal.”

He accused Fadnavis of hypocrisy, citing earlier statements.

“He once said he wouldn’t marry unless Vidarbha became a separate state. He swore never to ally with Ajit Pawar or support Chhagan Bhujbal and Narayan Rane due to corruption. Yet today, he sits beside them. This is not just political hypocrisy—it’s moral bankruptcy,” Sapkal said.

He further alleged that Fadnavis is notorious for granting clean chits to corrupt ministers and has now extended the same favor to the Election Commission.

“If there’s nothing to hide, why does the entire dal (electoral process) appear black?” he asked.

Sapkal stressed that the Election Commission—not political parties—must respond to serious charges regarding electoral integrity.
“Rahul Gandhi raised five key questions—on CCTV footage, rule changes, voter list manipulation, and delayed results. The EC should have responded clearly. Instead, we see BJP leaders defending it,” he said.

He also demanded narco tests for Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam and former Additional CEO Kiran Kulkarni, alleging that such measures could expose the truth about voter fraud.

Ramesh Chennithala: “The Heist Was Pre-Planned”

Senior Congress leader and party in-charge for Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala, echoed Sapkal’s concerns. He termed the 2019 Assembly elections a “pre-planned operation” to hijack democracy.

“The systematic violation of the people’s mandate is laid bare in Rahul Gandhi’s article. Despite repeated representations, the Election Commission has failed to offer satisfactory answers. Instead, rules have been altered to shield the guilty,” he said.

He referred to a recent Chandigarh High Court order for releasing CCTV footage of the Haryana Assembly elections, which he claimed was nullified by subsequent rule changes.

Chennithala also pointed to suspicious trends such as delays in vote percentage announcements and reversals in electoral fortunes just months after the opposition swept the Lok Sabha elections.
“This cannot be a coincidence. Something is deeply rotten in the system, and we will continue our pursuit of the truth,” he asserted.

Sanjay Raut: “Democracy Has Been Hijacked”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut added that Rahul Gandhi’s observations had gained global attention.
“He has consistently said that democracy is under threat in India, and Maharashtra’s Assembly elections are a prime example. The BJP looted and hijacked the election,” Raut charged.

He questioned the legitimacy of the BJP’s win, stating, “Without manipulation, the BJP wouldn’t have even won 25 seats.”

Raut also criticized the party’s attempts to distract the public through welfare schemes like Ladki Bahin, calling it a tactic to cover up the alleged electoral theft.
“Under Modi, Shah, and Fadnavis, the BJP has hijacked not just elections but also constitutional institutions—including the Election Commission,” he said.