Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent allegations of electoral manipulation, citing data that shows Congress victories in over two dozen constituencies where voter turnout surged by more than 8%.
Responding to Gandhi’s claims of irregularities in the Lok Sabha elections, Fadnavis said, “There are more than 25 constituencies in Maharashtra where voter turnout increased significantly, and Congress won in many of them.” He pointed to examples such as:
- West Nagpur: Voter turnout rose by 7% (27,065 votes), and Congress candidate Vikas Thakre emerged victorious.
- North Nagpur: A 7% increase (29,348 votes) saw Congress’ Nitin Raut win.
- Wadgaon Sheri (Pune): Turnout jumped 10% (50,911 votes), with Sharad Pawar faction’s Bapusaheb Pathare winning.
- Malad West: An 11% rise (38,625 votes) led to a win for Congress’ Aslam Shaikh.
- Mumbra: A 9% increase (46,041 votes) saw Jitendra Awhad of the Sharad Pawar faction secure victory.
Fadnavis accused Gandhi of ignoring these facts and advised him to consult his own party colleagues before making sweeping statements. “Even if not with allies, it would’ve helped if you had spoken to your own party’s long-time associates,” he said, adding that the Congress’ poor communication strategy contributed to its overall performance.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions following the Lok Sabha results, with both BJP and Congress trading barbs over voter turnout patterns and electoral integrity.
