'Baseless': ECI responds to Kharge's letter on voter turnout data
The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Friday, responded to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's allegations of discrepancies in voter turnout data. The ECI accused Kharge of making baseless claims intended to "create confusion, misdirection and impediments in the conduct of free and fair polls." The panel also criticized Kharge for making his letter public, which was initially meant for internal correspondence within a political grouping.
Why does this story matter?
Over 10 days after Phase 1 and four days after Phase 2 polling for Lok Sabha elections—the ECI released the final voter turnout percentages for the initial rounds on April 30. Soon after, the opposition had raised concerns over the delay in release of the data. The parties had also pointed out that the poll body did not release the total number of voters in each constituency, and the number of votes polled in each constituency in the initial phases.
Opposition seeks details on total votes polled per constituency
The ECI website by then only showed the number of voters in a state and in each booth. Amid the row, the ECI had said that booth-wise data of the "actual number of votes polled" is available to the candidates soon after voting ends. On Monday, the ECI released the total number of electors in every seat. Opposition parties, however, have also sought the details of the number of voters who exercised their franchise.
EC condemns Kharge's question on final results
The ECI strongly condemned Kharge's question, "Could this be an attempt to doctor the final results?" The panel said such a question could create an anarchic situation, besides causing doubts and disharmony. The commission also dismissed Kharge's allegations of mismanagement and delays in releasing voter turnout data as baseless and lacking evidence. The ECI accused him of obstructing the fair conduct of elections and spreading confusion with a biased agenda.
ECI refutes Kharge's claims of voter turnout data delay
Addressing the allegations levelled by Kharge point by point, the ECI called them "insinuations and innuendos" and an "aggression on vitals of live election operations." On the allegation that the voter turnout increased by 5.5% in the first phase and about 5.74% in the second phase and that their release was delayed, the ECI said there was no delay and pointed out that the updated turnout data has always been higher than what was released on polling day.
What Kharge had said in his letter to ECI
On Tuesday, in a letter to Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc, Kharge had asked raised the issue of delay in voter turnout. He urged the INDIA bloc parties to "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". Kharge had said "the credibility of the ECI is at an all time low."
