ECI withholding voters' data, alleges Kejriwal; launches website for 'transparency'
What's the story
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has accused the Election Commission (EC) of not releasing voting data ahead of the Delhi Assembly election results. He alleged that despite repeated requests, the EC did not upload Form 17C and booth-wise vote counts on its official website. Form 17C is a document recording votes cast at each polling booth, signed by the presiding officer and polling agents.
Proactive measure
AAP launches website for electoral transparency
The AAP has also launched a dedicated website, transparentelections.in. The website aims to make this important voting data publicly available. "Aam Aadmi Party has made a website - transparentelections.in where we have uploaded all the form 17C of every assembly," Kejriwal announced on social media platform X, stressing that this was done for "electoral transparency."
Data accessibility
Kejriwal criticizes EC, ensures easy access to data
Kejriwal also said the AAP would present the data in a tabulated format all day long for easy access of voters. He slammed the Election Commission for not doing what he called a basic duty in ensuring transparency in elections. "This is something that the election commission should have done in the interest of transparency but it is unfortunate that they are refusing to do it," he said.
Election outcome
Delhi Assembly election results awaited
The allegations come a day before vote counting for the Delhi Assembly elections. The results will decide if AAP gets a fourth consecutive term or if Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form a government in Delhi after 27 years. Several exit polls have given an edge to the BJP; however, exit poll predictions can sometimes, if not often, be wrong.