New Delhi: Election Commission (EC) sources on Saturday dismissed accusations of rigging in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held last year, stating that blaming the institution following an unfavourable electoral outcome is absolutely absurd.

The response comes in the wake of an article by Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who alleged "match-fixing" during the state elections.

The sources said any misinformation being spread by anyone brings disrepute to the thousands of representatives appointed by political parties during elections and demotivates lakhs of poll staff who work tirelessly for the gigantic exercise.

They pointed out that unsubstantiated allegations raised against the electoral rolls of Maharashtra are an affront to the rule of law.

PTI