‘Weaponisation of Elections’: Report Exposes Irregularities in Maharashtra Polls, Questions ECI’s Credibility

Citizens’ Study Finds Massive Anomalies in Maharashtra 2024 Polls, Warns of Threat to Democracy

Bengaluru — A damning new report has raised alarm over large-scale irregularities in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of presiding over what experts called the “weaponisation of India’s election system.”

Released by the citizens’ group Vote for Democracy (VFD) and guided by experts including former bureaucrat M.G. Devasahayam, educationist Dr. Pyara Lal Garg, political analyst Madhav Deshpande, and scientist Prof. Harish Karnick, the study — titled “Dysfunctional ECI and Weaponisation of India’s Election System” — presents constituency-level analysis of all 288 seats in Maharashtra. Using official electoral data and eyewitness accounts, the report argues that the integrity of India’s democracy is at stake.

“If these practices continue, they could sound the death-knell of electoral democracy in India,” warned the authors.

What Is ‘Weaponisation’ of the Election System?

The report identifies four critical components of India’s Electronic Voting System (EVS) — microchips that record votes, VVPATs for verification, Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) that upload candidate details, and the electoral roll.

According to VFD, post-2017 changes have made the system vulnerable: SLUs now have labile memory and internet linkages, creating opportunities for manipulation. Meanwhile, questionable voter roll practices have led to large-scale disenfranchisement.

“This is not just administrative error. It is the systematic weaponisation of the election system,” the report asserts.

Key Findings from Maharashtra 2024

The VFD report highlights nine major categories of irregularities, suggesting deliberate manipulation rather than chance discrepancies.

1. Midnight Turnout Surge

• Voter turnout jumped from 58.22% at 5 PM to 66.05% by midnight — translating into nearly 48 lakh additional votes.

• Districts like Nanded, Jalgaon, Hingoli, Solapur, Beed, and Dhule saw sudden double-digit turnout surges, a trend never seen historically.

2. Narrow Margins in Dozens of Seats

• 25 seats were won by fewer than 3,000 votes; 69 by fewer than 10,000 — margins where anomalies could decisively alter results.

3. Erratic and Inflated Voter Rolls

• Maharashtra’s rolls swelled by over 46 lakh voters in just six months between the May 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the November 2024 Assembly elections.

• Many additions were concentrated in constituencies lost by the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

• In some booths, 600+ new voters were added after 5 PM, a statistical impossibility.

4. Data Mismatches Across Years

• Between 2019 and 2024, Maharashtra’s rolls expanded at breakneck speed — from 8.86 crore (2019 LS) to 9.70 crore (2024 Assembly).

• Votes polled increased disproportionately, with 71 lakh more votes cast in the 2024 Assembly elections than in the Lok Sabha polls held the same year.

5. Surges Benefiting BJP

• BJP’s average votes per Assembly seat jumped by 28,000 between May and November 2024, without matching demographic growth.

• In Kamthi, for example, BJP gained 56,000 votes while Congress numbers remained stagnant.

6. High-Profile Anomalies

• Nagpur South West added 29,000 voters in six months — far above the permissible threshold.

• In Solapur’s Markadwadi village, locals alleged that EVM results did not match actual votes; attempts at a mock ballot were blocked by police.

7. Procedural Failures

• Reports of routers near polling stations, sudden power cuts during counting, delayed EVM arrivals, and CCTV failures cast doubt on the sanctity of the process.

• Mismatches between polling station records (Form 17C) and EVM control unit counts were also flagged.

8. Data Secrecy and Rule Changes

• The ECI amended Rule 93 in December 2024 to restrict access to election records — just days after a court ordered their release in another case.

• Retention of CCTV footage was slashed to 45 days, effectively destroying evidence before petitions could be filed.

9. Inaction on Hate Speech

• Over 100 complaints of hate speech during the Maharashtra campaign were reportedly ignored by the ECI.

Why Maharashtra Matters

Experts argue that the sheer scale, precision, and constituency-specific nature of these anomalies indicate a coordinated pattern of manipulation rather than bureaucratic lapses.

“Maharashtra is not just another state — it is a warning sign for the future of Indian democracy,” the report states.

Demands for Reform

VFD has called for urgent reforms to restore credibility:

• De-centralise elections: Let the ECI handle only parliamentary polls while State Election Commissions manage assembly and local body elections.

• Immediate forensic audits of EVMs, VVPATs, and voter rolls.

• Transparency guarantees: Public release of rolls, polling records, and CCTV footage.

• Rollback of restrictive rules curbing public scrutiny.

• Legislative safeguards to ensure end-to-end verifiability of votes.

People’s Struggle for Democracy

Civil society activists hailed the report as an affirmation of citizens’ long-standing concerns. While the ECI has remained silent on the findings, voices from the ground demanded accountability.

“People’s struggle for free and fair elections cannot be silenced. The Commission’s complicity is shameful, but citizens will continue to demand transparency,” said VFD convenor M.G. Devasahayam.

Dr. Pyara Lal Garg added: “This is not about one state or one election — it is about defending the very soul of Indian democracy.”

Conclusion

The report paints a grim picture of India’s electoral process, portraying the ECI not as a neutral constitutional authority but as an institution that has eroded public trust. With Maharashtra serving as a case study, the warning is clear: without urgent reform and citizen vigilance, the credibility of Indian democracy stands at risk.