Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched a fierce attack on the Election Commission, accusing it of undermining democracy by allowing the destruction of key election-related data. His remarks follow a May 30 directive from the Commission permitting electoral officers to erase CCTV footage, videography, and webcasting records if no legal challenge is filed within 45 days of result declaration.

Taking to social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi wrote:

“Voter list? Will not give in machine-readable format. CCTV footage? Hidden by changing the law. Election photos and videos? Now not in 1 year—will be deleted in just 45 days.”
He further alleged, “The one who should be held accountable is destroying the evidence. It’s clear the match is fixed. A fixed election is poison for democracy.”

EC Defends Decision, Rahul Raises Alarm
The Election Commission, in its notification, stated that while video and digital recordings are meant to ensure transparency, they’ve increasingly been used to spread “malicious narratives” questioning the Commission’s impartiality. The EC claims the destruction policy is a routine procedure rooted in legal and administrative norms.

However, Rahul Gandhi and the opposition see it differently. “Why this rush to delete?” ask critics, who argue that this move limits transparency and could allow irregularities to be hidden.

Repeated Concerns Over Election Transparency
This isn't Rahul Gandhi’s first attack on the EC. He had earlier alleged “match fixing” during the Maharashtra elections. His latest comments come amid growing opposition concerns over the integrity of the 2024 general elections—especially with issues surrounding EVMs, voter data access, and surveillance footage.

As questions grow louder over accountability and trust in democratic institutions, the opposition is sharpening its pitch: transparency must not be sacrificed in the name of procedure.