MUMBAI: Following repeated attacks from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over alleged rigging in 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, the Officer on Monday clarified that electoral rolls are revised annually through a participatory exercise and the same is shared with all the political parties “free of cost” and advised him to to download the voter rolls of the legislative elections from its website.
In a statement, the Maharashtra CEO said, “Electoral Rolls are revised annually through a participatory exercise. During this annual exercise, the Electoral Rolls are shared, free of cost, with recognized political parties, including INC (Indian National Congress), first at draft stage and second time after its finalization.”
The CEO said, “The similar exercise was done in 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024 and copies of such electoral rolls were then shared with INC, as well as with other political parties.”
The CEO also stated that a complete copy of Electoral Roll used in general elections to legislative assembly, Maharashtra-2024 is also available on website for public to freely download.
The CEO also said that even for earlier electoral rolls, a copy of finalised Electoral Rolls is retained by District Election Officer as well.
Under Rule 33 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, any person, including INC, can apply to the concerned District Election Officer and get a copy of such retained Electoral Rolls, on payment of prescribed fee, the CEO said.
“CEO, Maharashtra had reiterated this statutory position on 22 May 2025 to a Member of Parliament of INC who sought a copy of electoral rolls which were already provided to the INC at the time of revision in 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024,” it added.
The remarks came after Rahul Gandhi asked the poll panel to share theexact date by when it will share the voter rolls.
Earluer in the day, Rahul Gandhi took to X, and wrote, “Good first step taken by EC to hand over voter rolls.”
“Can the EC please announce the exact date by which this data will be handed over in a digital, machine-readable format?” Rahul Gandhi asked.
Rahul Gandhi has targeted the poll panel alleging large-scale electoral manipulation in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, calling it a “blueprint for rigging democracy”, and warned of same plot will be repeated in Bihar assembly polls.