Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addressed the media on Monday, defending the Election Commission’s (EC) handling of voter turnout data amid mounting criticism from opposition parties. The controversy comes just one day before the results of the Lok Sabha elections are set to be announced.
Kumar assured that the counting mechanism is robust and error-free, responding to allegations of discrepancies in voter turnout data. “We failed to understand the fake narratives of the faulty voter lists and turnout data that were going on during the elections. But we have understood it now,” Kumar said, without naming specific parties.
The Congress party had raised concerns about the significant differences between real-time voter turnout data and the final figures released by the EC. Other opposition parties also criticized the delay in releasing the final voter turnout, suggesting it contributed to voter unease and mistrust.
Kumar provided detailed explanations about the counting process, emphasizing the precedence of postal ballot counting over electronic voting machines (EVMs). “Section 54 A of the RPA Act was introduced in 1954. At that time, there were not many people for postal ballots. In all centres, the counting of postal ballots will start first. After only half an hour, EVM counting will start,” Kumar said, noting that this procedure was followed in the 2019 general elections and the 2022 Assembly elections.
In light of Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s allegations that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had contacted 150 district magistrates before vote counting, Kumar challenged the opposition to provide concrete evidence. “The entire counting process is absolutely robust. We don’t think anywhere there is a robust system like it. Every part is decided. The whole process is codified,” he stated, highlighting the presence of counting officials, agents, and observers throughout the process.
As the nation awaits the Lok Sabha election results, the EC’s robust defence underscores its commitment to transparency and accuracy. Despite the opposition’s concerns, the EC remains confident in the integrity of its processes, aiming to maintain public trust in India’s democratic electoral system.
