Sat Jun 21 10:56:16 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of “deleting evidence” and fixing elections by instructing officers to destroy CCTV, webcasting, and video footage of the recent elections after 45 days if no legal challenge is filed. Gandhi alleges this is a deliberate attempt to hide irregularities and criticizes the ECI for not providing voter lists, poll data, and video footage when requested, alleging irregularities in Maharashtra assembly elections. The ECI justifies its decision by stating it aims to prevent misuse of the footage for misinformation and malicious narratives on social media.
**News Article:**
**Rahul Gandhi Accuses Election Commission of “Deleting Evidence,” Alleging Fixed Elections**
**New Delhi, June 21, 2025** – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday, accusing the poll body of “deleting evidence” related to the recent elections and alleging a fixed electoral process.
Gandhi’s accusations stem from the ECI’s instruction to its state officers to destroy CCTV, webcasting, and video footage of the elections after 45 days if the results are not challenged in court. The Congress leader took to X, stating, “Voter list? Will not give machine-readable format. CCTV footage? Hidden by changing the law. Election photos and videos? Now they will be deleted in 45 days, not 1 year. The one who was supposed to provide answers – is the one deleting the evidence.”
Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, further alleged, “It is clear that the match is fixed. And a fixed election is poison for democracy.” He has been demanding voter lists, poll data, and video footage from the ECI, claiming irregularities in the Maharashtra assembly elections.
The ECI, in a letter to state Chief Electoral Officers on May 30, explained its decision by stating it aims to prevent the misuse of electronic data to create misinformation and malicious narratives. “The recent misuse of this content by non-contestants for spreading misinformation and malicious narratives on social media by selective and out-of-context use of such content, which will not lead to any legal outcome, has prompted a review,” the ECI stated.
The poll body has instructed state chiefs that CCTV data, webcasting data, and photography of election processes will be preserved for 45 days, after which it can be destroyed if no election petition is filed.
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