NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday claimed that the jump in voting percentage in the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, as alleged by the Congress, was normal.
In response to Congress’ allegations, the poll panel said the charge of a spike in polling percentage by the Congress in the Maharashtra Assembly elections was a “misconception”.
It added that the increase in voter turnout from 5 pm to 11.45 pm was normal.
Last month, the Congress had raised doubts about the jump in voting percentage in Maharashtra on the polling day and demanded an answer from the ECI.
In a letter to the ECI, the Congress said there was an “inexplicable increase” in voter turnout between 5 pm and the final voter percentage announced by the EC at 11.30 pm on the day of polling.
Replying to the concerns, the EC explained why it was wrong to compare 5 pm voter turnout data with the 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 bona fide but inconsequential differences in votes polled and votes counted data.
It said it was impossible to change the 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.
It further explained that a rule-based process was followed with transparency in Maharashtra electoral roll preparation and there was 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.
On November 29, the Congress had written to the ECI saying, “With this exercise of unchecked and arbitrary deletion and consequent insertion of voters, Maharashtra witnessed an unprecedented increase of an estimated 47 lakh voters being added to the electoral roll between July 2024 and November 2024.”