Maharashtra’s political landscape has been jolted by fresh allegations of voter fraud in the Rajura Assembly constituency, with opposition leaders accusing the ruling BJP of manipulating electoral rolls through automated software. The controversy, which gained national attention following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s explosive press conference on September 18, 2025, has triggered demands for an independent investigation and intensified calls for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s resignation.
The Rajura seat, located in Chandrapur district, has become the epicenter of the storm, with Congress candidate Subhash Dhote claiming that nearly 18,000 bogus names were added to the voters’ list between the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the November 2024 Assembly polls. While electoral officials maintain that most fraudulent applications were rejected, the opposition insists that thousands of illegitimate entries were allowed, altering the election outcome.
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Timeline of Alleged Voter Fraud in Rajura
| Date Range | Event |
|---|---|
| April–May 2024 | Lok Sabha elections held |
| October 1–17, 2024 | 7,592 new voter applications received in Rajura |
| November 2024 | Maharashtra Assembly elections conducted |
| September 18, 2025 | Rahul Gandhi raises voter fraud allegations in press conference |
| September 19–20, 2025 | Political fallout intensifies; FIRs and EC statements emerge |
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has denied wrongdoing, stating that 6,861 applications were rejected due to discrepancies such as fake addresses and missing documents.
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Allegations and Counterclaims: Who Said What
| Stakeholder | Statement |
|---|---|
| Rahul Gandhi | “Automated software was used to add and delete voters across multiple states.” |
| Subhash Dhote (Congress) | “I lost the election due to fraudulent entries. The EC deleted them but won’t reveal who added them.” |
| Devrao Bhongle (BJP) | “I filed the complaint that led to the rejection of bogus applications.” |
| Atul Londhe (Congress) | “11,667 bogus voters were registered online in October 2024.” |
| Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena UBT) | “EC’s refusal to share CCTV footage proves Rahul Gandhi’s claims.” |
| Keshav Upadhye (BJP) | “Rahul Gandhi is the king of vote theft. Let him go to court instead of media.” |
The BJP has dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, while Congress and its allies continue to press for transparency and accountability.
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Voter Addition and Deletion Data in Rajura
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Applications Received | 7,592 |
| Applications Rejected | 6,861 |
| Alleged Bogus Entries Added | 11,036 (Congress claim) |
| Booths in Constituency | 344 |
| Net Voter Increase (Claimed) | ~10,600 |
Congress alleges that over 55,000 new voters were added to the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat within five months, with Rajura alone seeing a suspicious spike in registrations.
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Electoral Impact: Rajura Assembly vs Lok Sabha Results
| Election Type | Congress Performance | BJP Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha 2024 | Lead of 58,349 votes in Rajura segment | |
| Assembly 2024 | BJP’s Devrao Bhongle wins by 3,054 votes |
The dramatic swing between the two elections has fueled suspicions of voter roll manipulation, especially given the short time frame between the polls.
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Legal and Administrative Developments
| Action Taken | Status |
|---|---|
| FIR Filed by Tehsildar | Confirmed by Congress |
| EC Statement | Denies fraudulent additions; cites due diligence |
| Complaint by Bhongle | Led to rejection of bogus applications |
| Congress Letters to Collector & SP | No response received |
| Demand for IP Data | Congress seeks email IDs and IP addresses used for fake registrations |
Despite multiple complaints, Congress claims that the EC has not disclosed the identities or digital footprints of those involved in the alleged scam.
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Political Fallout and Demands
| Party/Leader | Demand |
|---|---|
| Congress | Independent probe; CM Fadnavis’s resignation |
| Shiv Sena (UBT) | EC must release CCTV footage and voter data |
| NCP (SP) | Inquiry into ECI portal security and insider access |
| BJP | Dismisses allegations; accuses Congress of deflection |
The opposition has united in demanding electoral reforms and greater transparency, while the ruling coalition maintains that the allegations are a cover for Congress’s electoral defeat.
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Conclusion: Maharashtra’s Electoral Integrity Under Scrutiny
The voter fraud allegations in Rajura have reignited debates over the sanctity of India’s electoral process. With claims of automated software manipulation, mass bogus registrations, and administrative opacity, the controversy threatens to erode public trust in democratic institutions.
As pressure mounts on the Election Commission and the Maharashtra government, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether these allegations lead to systemic reforms or fade into political noise. For now, Maharashtra remains a battleground—not just for votes, but for the credibility of its electoral machinery.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available news reports, verified political statements, and Election Commission data. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, political, or electoral advice. All developments are subject to official investigation and judicial review.
