'Introspect and apologise': Fadnavis attacks Rahul Gandhi for his Maharashtra poll result remarks

In the Maharashtra elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti stormed to power after winning 235 out of 288 seats. In the Maharashtra elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti stormed to power after winning 235 out of 288 seats.

Following Rahul Gandhi's allegations about manipulation in the recently held assembly elections in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha should “introspect” and “apologise” for his remarks.

While addressing the Lok Sabha on Monday, Gandhi alleged that 70 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra’s electoral rolls in five months between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. He also claimed that 7,000 new voters were registered from the address of one building in Shirdi.

"Introspect instead of insulting Maharashtra! You have insulted the people of Maharashtra, the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule and Veer Savarkar. You have questioned the democratic mandate given by the people of Maharashtra to the NDA just because your party was vanquished," Fadnavis said in a post on X. "Instead of introspection, you are indulging in slander. The people of Maharashtra won’t forgive you for this. Apologise Mr. Rahul Gandhi !"

Introspect instead of insulting Maharashtra !You have insulted the people of Maharashtra, the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, BharatRatna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule and Veer Savarkar.You have questioned the democratic mandate given by the people of Maharashtra

Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) February 3, 2025

In the Maharashtra elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti stormed to power after winning 235 out of 288 seats. The BJP alone won 132 seats, decimating the Maha Vikas Aghadi of Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT).

Gandhi also alleged that between the Lok Sabha polls, which the INDIA bloc won, and the assembly elections, the number equivalent to the population of Himachal was added to the voting rolls of Maharashtra.

"More voters were added in Maharashtra in five months between the Lok Sabha and assembly polls than in five years," the former Congress president said.

Earlier also, the Congress had raised concerns about the outcome of the Maharashtra election.

He said there is a "serious problem" with the election system and that the Election Commission (EC) needs to ensure there is transparency in polls.

He said "something wrong" had taken place in the polls. According to him, Congress and the Opposition have been asking for the voter lists but the poll body has been refusing to provide.

A Congress delegation had also met the EC and raised concerns over alleged inconsistencies in the electoral process.