CPI(M), Cong Raise Alarm Over 85,000 Vote Gap In Initial Vs Final Polling Figures

The CPI(M) in Maharashtra has raised concerns regarding the Election Commission's release of voter turnout data. It highlights an over 85,000 vote difference between the initial data released after polling ended and the final data released 24 hours later in the Dhule constituency of Maharashtra.

"Appreciate Returning Officer Shri Abhinav Goel for providing updated Format A and B of total votes polled in 02 Dhule PC. Why is there an increase of 85,943 total votes polled in 24 hours @CEO_Maharashtra?" the CPI(M) said on X.

It comes at a time when the Opposition bloc has been speaking about electoral malpractises in the ongoing polls. Last week, the Supreme Court sought a response within a week from the Election Commission on a plea by an NGO seeking a direction to upload polling station-wise voter turnout data on its website within 48 hours of the conclusion of polling for each phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission had released the final turnout data 11 days after the polling day for the first phase and four days after the polling for phases two, three, and four.

CPI(M) Maharashtra secretary Uday Narkar told South First: "In the first four phases (of the Lok Sabha elections), there is a huge variation between the figures furnished by the EC soon after polling and the data released later."

He noted that the difference in votes in this phase is 1.07 crore votes. "We wrote to the EC to furnish the poll data with absolute numbers at the booth level. The booth-level data is already with them, which is how they provided the figures but they are not releasing it. We are waiting for their reply," Narkar added.

Kerala leader Shailaja, who is contesting from Vadakara constituency, has said that there has been "abnormal" increase in the approximate data and final figures furnished by the EC. She stated, "Something very strange is happening with the Election Commission throughout the current phases of voting. The difference between the approximate and final figures shows an abnormal increase."

"Our leaders have noted that the difference between the approximate and final numbers is increasing. Although there have been differences before, earlier cases were not like this. As this is happening across India, we suspect some malpractice behind it. This needs to be investigated," the former Kerala Health Minister added.

Congress leader Pawan Khera has expressed his worry over the "strange going" in the central agency. He said, "First, the Election Commission takes 10-11 days to bring out the final figure of voting and then the difference between real-time data and the final figure turns out to be 1.7 crore votes. This is truly unprecedented. Unanswered questions about the missing EVMs are also very worrying."

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that this difference of 1.07 crore overall translates into an increase of 28,000 in each Lok Sabha seat. He added, "This is HUGE. The discrepancy is maximum in states where BJP is expected to lose seats heavily. What is happening?"

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, arguing that disclosing voter turnout data from Form 17C, which includes records of votes cast at each polling station, could confuse voters. The ECI emphasized that this data also includes postal ballot counts, which could potentially mislead the public.

Days ago, a video from Uttar Pradesh had hit the internet where a youth is seen voting for the BJP candidate as many as eight times in the fifth phase of the general election. The son of Khiriya Pamaran village head Anil Thakur allegedly cast votes eight times at booth number 343 under the Nayagaon police station limits.

The youngster has been arrested by the UP cops.