New Delhi: On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) responded to Congress’ complaints and an ‘urgent memorandum’ on Maharashtra Assembly elections and also addressed its demand for an ‘in-person meeting’ with the poll body.
Reassuring the public of its commitment to transparency, the poll body rejected Congress’ claims of ‘grave inconsistencies and sudden spike’ in the polling percentage after 5 p.m. on voting day. It emphasised that voter turnout figures were continuously updated on the Voter Turnout App.
Expressing its willingness to address Congress’ concerns, the EC conveyed its readiness to provide a detailed reply on the ‘red-flagged’ issues as soon as possible. It invited the Congress delegation to present its case on December 3 at 5 p.m.
“After suitably hearing you further in-person, the Commission will convey its detailed reply to the issues raised in your letter at the earliest possible time,” it said in a statement.
It also said that the issue of the gap between the polling percentage (released by EC) by 5 p.m. and the closing polling percentage and the reasons behind it had been shared earlier, especially with the Congress party.
Notably, the grand old party submitted a 12-page memorandum before the Election Commission on Friday, raising red flags over ‘discrepancy and inconsistencies’ in Maharashtra Assembly polls. It also cited similar ‘doubts and suspicion’ raised by former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi.
It claimed that there was a systemic effort to try and reduce the number of voters (and votes) ‘sympathetic to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (Cong-SS-NCP-SP) alliance’. “It is significant to note that out of the 50 Assembly seats, where there was an average increase of 50,000 voters, the ruling regime and its allies secured victory from 47…” the Congress said.
Its second point of concern was the surge in polling percentage from 5 p.m. to 11.30 p.m., which suggests it is the apparent reason behind MVA’s electoral reverses.
“EC’s average voter turnout at 5 p.m. was 58.22 percent and that this jumped to 65.02 percent by 11.30 pm, this shows discrepancies in voter turnout data,” the INC had said in its complaint.
–IANS
