Democracy doesn't need drama: BJP rebuts Rahul Gandhi's 'match-fixing' claim on Maha polls

The BJP on Friday hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his "match-fixing" allegation in the Maharashtra assembly polls, calling it a desperate attempt to manufacture fake narratives after repeated electoral losses.

In a five-point rebuttal to Gandhi's recent article, BJP president JP Nadda said: "Instead of introspecting, he cooks up bizarre conspiracies and cries rigging."

"Rahul Gandhi ignores all facts, defames institutions, and shamelessly peddles lies despite being exposed time and again," Nadda said, adding that the Congress leader was doing so because "a defeat in Bihar is certain."


"Democracy doesn't need drama. It needs truth," he asserted.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan also criticised Gandhi's remarks, calling them part of a "predictable script-lose elections, discredit institutions, fabricate conspiracies, and portray himself as a victim of an imaginary system."

"But India's democracy is far stronger than the insecurities of a dynast who refuses to accept repeated electoral verdicts," Pradhan said.

He added that if Rahul Gandhi should be worried about any rigging, "it's the kind his own party mastered for decades-from the Emergency to misusing Article 356 over 90 times to dismiss opposition governments."

Echoing the sentiment, BJP's Maharashtra unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule accused Gandhi of selective data use.

"In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, there were 7.29 crore voters. Five months later in the assembly polls, the number rose by 30 lakh. Congress was in power at both Centre and state then. Why didn't you question the Election Commission back then? Was it in alliance with Congress?" Bawankule asked.

He said the Congress raised no concerns over voter figures in 2009, but is now complaining after facing defeat.

"Unless the Congress does serious introspection, similar results will follow," Bawankule added.