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India Politics

Demand Independence, ECI should publish figures of each round of polls: Congress President Kharge

In a letter addressed to all the leaders of INDIA parties, regarding the discrepancies in the voting data released by Election Commission of India (ECI) and non-publishing of actual numbers of registered voters, Mallikarujun Kharge, Congress President has raised serious issues on the dysfunctional partisan conduct of the statutory body

In an open letter addressed to the leaders of INDIA parties, regarding the discrepancies in the voting data released by Election Commission of India (ECI)and non-publishing of registered voters, Mallikarujun Kharge, Congress President has raised serious issues on the dysfunctional partisan conduct of the statutory body. The letter was out in the public domain by 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 7, the day of the third phase of polling in the 18th Lok Sabha polls.

Says Kharge, “2024 Lok Sabha elections is the fight to save Democracy and the Constitution of India. As you are aware with the recent developments, that the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is at an all time low. It is in public domain on how the ECI, perhaps for the first time in history, delayed the release of the final voting percentages of the First and Second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.”

The letter may be viewed here

“Additionally, “ states the public communication, “it is extremely disconcerting to know, through various media reports that even the final registered voters list from the Third phase onwards is also not released. All these developments cast a dark shadow on the functioning of the Election Commission of India – an institution built with the collective efforts of the Indian State and its people.”

“The inordinate delay in the release of the final voting percentages for the First and Second phases raises serious doubts on the quality of data. In my electoral life of 52 years, I have never witnessed such a high increment of voting percentages, in the final published data, that we now assume came from the later hours of voting on the polling days.”

In a bid to refresh public memory, Kharge has urged the collective questioning of the ECI on the following issues-:

“1. On April 30, 2024, the Election Commission released the final voter turnout data for the first 2 phases of elections for the 2024 Lok Sabha. The data was released 11 days after the first phase of polling (April 19, 2024) and 4 days after the Second Phase (April 26, 2024). In this regard our first question for the Election Commission is – Why did the Commission delay the release of voter turnout data?

“2. On earlier occasions the Commission has published voter turnout data within 24 hours of polling. What has changed this time? Why has the Commission failed to issue any clarification to justify the delay, despite the being repeatedly questioned by political parties as well as political activists? Is there an issue with the EVMs?

“3. Now for the First Phase (102 Seats), the Commission said that as on 7pm on 19.04.2024, the estimated voter turnout was around 60%, while similarly for the Second Phase (88 Seats), the estimated voter turnout was around 60.96 % [All these figures were widely reported in the media].  Why is it that on 20.04.2024, the Commission’s projected voter turnout for the First Phase was increased to 65.5% and on 27.04.2024, for the Second Phase the voter turnout data was to 66.7%. Finally on 30.04.2024, the figures were confirmed at 66.14% for the First Phase and 66.71% for the Second Phase?

“4. We ask the Commission – For First Phase, why is there a near increase of ~5.5% in the final voter turnout from date of conclusion of voting (at 7pm on 19.04.2024) to the delayed release of voter turnout data (On 30.04.2024)?

“For Second Phase, there is a near increase of more than ~5.74% in the final voter turnout from the date of conclusion of voting (at 7pm on 26.04.2024) to the delayed release of data (On 30.04.2024)?

“5. Apart from the delay, the voter turnout data released by the Commission does not mention crucial yet related figures, such as the votes polled in each Parliamentary Constituency and in the respective Assembly Constituencies? If the voter turnout data was published within 24 hours of voting along with the crucial figures, then we would have known if the increase (of ~5%) had been witnessed across constituencies? Or only in constituencies where the ruling regime had not performed well in the 2019 elections?

“To alleviate these doubts raised in the public domain, the Commission should have not only released the data per Parliamentary Constituency (and respective Assembly Constituencies) but it should have also released the voter turnout data in each polling station. In fact, with each polling station, Assembly Constituency and Parliamentary, should also mention/publish the complaints which may have been filed by the Political Party? [Specific in the context of Nagaland, Tripura etc. where issues are raised at Polling station level]

“As per the ECI, the Polling Agents of the Candidates have the exact voter turnout data of each polling station. It means that the Commission also has the requisite data of the voter turnout for each polling station; now our question to them is what exactly is precluding the Commission from publishing the same for the people?

“6. Is it not true that, according to some media reports, the final registered voters list of the next phases, has not been made public? Will the ECI be made answerable for this glaring mismanagement in basics in conducting the elections?

“As the India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), it should be our collective endeavour to safeguard Democracy and protect the independent functioning of the ECI. All the aforementioned facts force us to ask a question – could this be an attempt to doctor the final results?”

Finally the punch line in the letter.

Kharge states in conclusion, “We all know how PM Modi and the BJP are visibly flustered and frustrated by the voting trends and their receding electoral fortunes in the first two phases. The entire nation knows that an autocratic regime, drunk with power, can go to any extent to stay in the chair.

“In this context, I would urge all of you that we must collectively, unitedly and unequivocally raise our voice against such discrepancies, for our only objective is to protect the culture of a vibrant Democracy and the Constitution.

“Let us ensure the independence of the Election Commission of India and make it accountable.”

It is to be seen if this forceful effort of the President of the leading opposition party in the INDIA alliance will at all jog the conscience of an institution that appears to have gone mum on all its statutory and Constitutional duties.


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