The Indian National Congress (INC) had raised significant concerns over a dramatic and unexplained surge in voter turnout during the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. In an urgent memorandum addressed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on November 29, 2024, the party highlighted several discrepancies in polling data, particularly between figures reported at different intervals on election day. The Congress has termed these irregularities as unprecedented, implausible, and indicative of potential electoral malpractice.
In addition to the issue of voter surge, the party also urged the ECI to address concerns about the battery life of electronic voting machines (EVMs), by recommending that the ECI conduct a practical demonstration and evaluation. As demanded by the Congress, the same can involve randomly selecting 25 EVMs used in the Haryana and Maharashtra elections, respectively, for a real-time assessment. The process should be conducted in the presence of political party representatives and reputable technical experts. Such a step would help dispel doubts regarding the reported 99% battery life of EVMs following their usage.
The main issues highlighted in the memorandum regarding the voter turnout is as follows:
- The disparity in voter turnout: The Congress memorandum detailed how the voter turnout figures escalated sharply between the provisional data released at 5:00 PM and the final numbers disclosed before counting in Maharashtra. According to ECI’s own data, the turnout stood at 58.22% as of 5:00 PM, equating to 5,64,88,024 votes cast. By 11:30 PM, this percentage had increased to 65.02%, translating to an additional 65,97,708 votes cast within the intervening hours. However, the final percentage reported before counting further rose to 66.05%, marking an increase of approximately 10 lakh additional votes.
The Congress described this dramatic increase of 76 lakh votes in just a few hours as “unprecedented and unheard of in electoral history”. Citing logistical constraints, the memorandum argued that even if each voter took only two minutes to cast their ballot, such a surge was practically impossible within the limited timeframe.
- Questionable adherence to procedures: The Congress memorandum highlighted that the ECI’s Handbook for Presiding Officers (2023) mandates specific protocols for voters in queues after polling officially closes. It requires presiding officers to issue serially numbered slips to voters in the queue and to videograph the polling station to ensure transparency. However, the Congress alleged that the ECI has failed to provide any evidence that these protocols were followed in constituencies where the turnout spiked significantly after 5:00 PM.
Quoting the guidelines, the memorandum emphasised, “Distribute to all such electors slips signed by you in full, which should be serially numbered… continue the poll even beyond the closing hour until all these electors have cast their votes.” The memorandum further asserted that videography of voters in queues, as mandated in the “Videography of Critical Events & in Polling Stations” guidelines, was not made publicly available.
- Lack of transparency: Adding to their claims, the Congress highlighted a discrepancy in ECI’s updates. As per the Commission’s release at 11:53 PM on polling day, the voter turnout was stated as 65.02%, yet the final turnout before counting rose to 66.05%, implying an additional 10 lakh votes cast post-midnight.
Congress questioned how this increase occurred when the final voter turnout data was supposed to be compiled in real-time, as noted by former Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quraishi. Referring to his public comments, the memorandum noted, “Voter data is recorded and updated in real time, leaving no scope for such discrepancies unless there is manipulation or mismanagement.”
Implications of discrepancies
The memorandum argued that these voter turnout anomalies were concentrated in constituencies where the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won by significant margins, compounding suspicions. The Congress also pointed out that these issues were “not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of discrepancies that raise doubts over the integrity of the electoral process.”
The party further called for:
- A detailed public report on polling day anomalies.
- An investigation into whether protocols for voters in queues were followed, including the issuance of serially numbered slips and videography.
- Clarification on the additional 10 lakh votes recorded after the 11:53 PM release.
The demand for accountability
The Congress memorandum concluded by urging the ECI to uphold its constitutional responsibility under Article 324 to ensure free and fair elections. It stated, “Even a single instance of voter manipulation and electoral fraud warrants urgent and immediate intervention from this Hon’ble Commission.” The party requested an in-person hearing to present further constituency-specific issues.
The Congress’s allegations strike at the core of public trust in democratic processes. By highlighting the voter turnout surge, discrepancies in data updates, and procedural lapses, the memorandum raises critical questions about electoral transparency. The party has made it clear that “silence and inaction by the Commission could erode public faith in the sanctity of India’s electoral framework.”
These concerns being raised by the Congress serve as a reminder of the imperative for robust oversight mechanisms and transparent processes to safeguard the integrity of elections in the world’s largest democracy.
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Congress raises alarm over manipulated voter rolls in Maharashtra Assembly elections