NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Tuesday clarified the misconception regarding the jump in voting percentage in Maharashtra that occurred on polling day and said that the increase in voter turnout from 5 pm to 11:45 pm is normal.
Last month, the Congress raised doubts about the jump in voting percentage in Maharashtra on polling day and demanded an answer from ECI. In a letter to the ECI, the Congress said that there was an “inexplicable increase” in voter turnout between 5pm and the final voter percentage announced by the EC at 11.30pm on the day of polling.
Replying to the concerns, the Election Commission explained why it was wrong to compare 5 pm voter turnout data with final polling data, how an increase in voter turnout from 5 pm to 11:45 pm is normal being part of the process of aggregation of voter turnout and how there can be bonafide but inconsequential differences in Votes polled and Votes Counted data.
The Commission categorically affirmed that it is impossible to change actual voter turnout as statutory Form 17C giving details of voter turnout is available with authorised agents of candidates at the time of close of poll at polling station itself, as per the ANI.
ECI said that rule-based process was followed with transparency in Maharashtra electoral roll preparation and there were no irregular pattern in voter deletions in the state. It told the Congress that due process was followed, including participation of Congress representatives in preparation of electoral rolls, PTI reported.
On November 29, the Congress wrote a letter to the Commission saying, “With this exercise of unchecked and arbitrary deletion and consequent insertion of voters, the State of Maharashtra witnessed an unprecedented increase of an estimated 47 Lakh voters being added to the electoral roll from between July 2024 – November 2024.”
“It is significant to note that out of the 50 Assembly Constituencies where there was an average increase of 50,000 voters, the ruling regime and its allies secured victory from 47 of these Constituencies,” it added.
Regarding the surge in voter turnouts, Congress said that the data provided by the poll body showed that voter turnout in Maharashtra was 58.22% at 5pm, which later increased to 65.02% by 11.30pm on the same day.
Additionally, the final reported turnout was 66.05%, several hours before the counting began. The data showed that approximately 76 lakh votes were cast between 5pm and 6pm on November 21, 2024, the letter said.
