Recent developments have seen Rahul Gandhi escalate his criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of the electoral process. Gandhi's accusations center around the ECI's decision to reduce the storage time of polling videos and CCTV footage to just 45 days after elections, a move he equates to "destroying evidence" and indicative of a "fixed match."

Gandhi's sharp remarks came in response to the ECI's directive instructing state poll officers to erase CCTV, webcasting, and video footage of the election process 45 days after the polls, unless the verdict is challenged in court within that period. The ECI defended its decision by citing concerns over potential misuse of the data to create "malicious narratives" and the need to protect voter privacy. They argue that retaining footage beyond the 45-day window, which aligns with the legal period for filing an election petition, could lead to its exploitation by non-contestants to spread misinformation.

The Congress leader, however, sees this as a blatant attempt to obstruct scrutiny and transparency. He argues that the ECI, instead of providing answers to questions regarding the electoral process, is actively "deleting evidence." In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi pointedly questioned the ECI's actions, highlighting the refusal to provide voter lists in machine-readable format and the decision to hide CCTV footage. He stated that these actions make it clear that the "match is fixed" and that a fixed election is "poison for democracy."

Gandhi's offensive follows earlier instances where he has raised concerns about the fairness of elections. He has been demanding voter lists, poll data, and video footage from the election commission, alleging irregularities in the Maharashtra assembly elections. The ECI has refuted these allegations, labeling them "absurd" and "unsubstantial". The commission has also pushed back against Gandhi's demands for the release of CCTV footage, arguing that such a move could be politically motivated and could lead to the harassment or profiling of voters, particularly in areas where a party has performed poorly.

The ECI has clarified that the CCTV footage is used solely as an internal administrative tool and is retained for 45 days, aligning with the legal window for challenging an election. If an election petition is filed within this period, the footage is preserved and made available to the competent court upon request. However, Gandhi remains unconvinced, maintaining that the reduction in storage time raises serious questions about the ECI's commitment to transparency and accountability.

This clash between Rahul Gandhi and the Election Commission highlights the ongoing debate surrounding electoral transparency and the role of technology in ensuring fair elections. While the ECI emphasizes the need to balance transparency with voter privacy and the potential for misuse of data, Gandhi and other opposition leaders argue that these concerns should not come at the expense of accountability and the public's right to scrutinize the electoral process. The controversy surrounding the storage of election footage is likely to continue, with both sides holding firm to their respective positions.