Congress alleges TRAI blocked SMS campaign for documentary on Maharashtra election irregularities, application rejected.

Sep 07, 2025
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The Indian National Congress is accusing the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) of censorship after the agency allegedly rejected the party's application to send SMS messages containing a link to a YouTube documentary titled "How the MH 2024 Election Was Stolen". TRAI reportedly justified the rejection by classifying the documentary's content as "related to protest".

Congress leaders have strongly criticized the decision, alleging a coordinated effort by the government to suppress information and suggesting it's a "telltale sign of guilt" regarding alleged fraud in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Praveen Chakravarty, Chairman of the Congress' Data Analytics Department, shared screenshots on X (formerly Twitter) of the rejection message, questioning the "perfect synchronisation" between the Home Ministry, Election Commission, and telecom regulator in stifling the information. Manickam Tagore, a Congress Lok Sabha Whip, echoed these concerns, calling the decision "ridiculous" and accusing TRAI of acting as the BJP's "IT Cell".

The documentary in question reportedly examines controversies surrounding the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, including allegations of unusual increases in voter numbers and turnout. Congress has been raising concerns about electoral irregularities in the 2024 Maharashtra polls, accusing the ruling BJP-led alliance of vote manipulation, voter list tampering and institutional bias. The party has formally complained to the Election Commission (EC) about the polling process, alleging a "huge increase in electors and voters" and an "inexplicable upsurge in polling after 5 pm on election day". They have demanded digital voter lists and video footage from the polling day.

Tagore directly challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti (referred to as Sh Gnaneshwar in his post), accusing them of a "censorship chain" involving surveillance, communication blocks, and the Election Commission's silence. He questioned why the government would be afraid of a YouTube link if the Maharashtra elections were not stolen. He further added that suppressing SMS messages would not suppress the truth, and blocking Congress workers would not block democracy.

TRAI has not yet responded to the Congress's claims. This incident raises concerns about regulatory oversight and freedom of expression in the telecom sector, particularly regarding political communications in India's digital media landscape.

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Kavya Iyer

With an enthusiastic and observant eye, Kavya is passionate about the intersection of arts, culture, social trends, and sports. She's keen on exploring her city's evolving cultural landscape, covering local artistic expressions, music scenes, and community events, while also following the latest in the sports world. Kavya is developing her writing style to capture the vibrancy and nuances of the cultural sphere, aiming to connect artists with a wider audience and analyze the societal reflections within their work.