(This story was first published on 26 December 2024. It is being republished in light of Rahul Gandhi's speech in the Parliament in which he raised concerns regarding discrepancies in electoral rolls in the Maharashtra Assembly polls. The Election Commission, however, has refuted these claims.)
The Election Commission of India (ECI), on 24 December, dismissed allegations of discrepancies in voter data in the recently concluded Maharashtra State Assembly elections.
These allegations were levelled by the Congress in a letter submitted to the poll body on 29 November.
The two main issues raised by the party were:
Arbitrary deletion of voters and subsequent addition of over 10,000 voters in each constituency from the final voter lists.
Inexplicable increase in voting percentages from 5 pm to the final voting percentage declared by EC at 11.30 pm on the day of polling.
In its response, the Commission said that considering 5 pm turnout as final is a 'misconception' and that while the voting officially ends at 5 pm in most places, those already at the polling booth are allowed to cast their votes however long it takes.
The Congress party, in its letter, had also alleged that in 50 Assembly constituencies where there was an average increase of 50,000 voters before the Assembly elections. The ruling regime and its allies secured victory in 47 of these 50 constituencies.
The Commission, in its response, said that the allegation was "misleading" and "factually Incorrect". In only five constituencies, the total addition were over 50,000 electors, the Commission said.