The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has constituted a seven-member committee to investigate and recommend measures to prevent irregularities in the voter list ahead of the upcoming local body elections. The committee will be headed by former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
In an official letter, the MPCC alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manipulated the voter list through various means during the previous Assembly elections and gained power with the help of the Election Commission. The letter states that such malpractice must not be repeated and that the committee has been tasked with suggesting preventive measures.
The committee comprises All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Praful Gudde Patil, former minister Ashokrao Patil, State General Secretary Rajesh Sharma, Assembly candidate Dhananjay Shirish Chaudhary, and Parikshit Virendra Jagtap. Abhay Chhajed, State General Secretary, has been appointed as the committee's coordinator.
Congress has already submitted an official complaint to the Election Commission regarding discrepancies in the voter list. However, the party claims that the Commission has not provided a satisfactory explanation. The letter also highlights that the BJP has been exploiting loopholes in the electoral system and engaging in large-scale manipulation of voter records to secure electoral victories.
The newly formed committee will study these issues in depth and submit a detailed report to the MPCC, aiming to ensure transparent and fair elections in the state.
Additionally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier alleged that during the last Maharashtra Assembly election, the number of voters increased by 76 lakh in just the last hour of polling. He criticized the Election Commission for refusing to provide CCTV footage and voter lists and accused it of destroying key evidence 45 days after counting.
