NEW DELHI: Amid row over voter turnout data, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday asserted that “nobody can change the data of votes polled” and released Lok Sabha constituency-wise data on the number of votes cast in the first five phases of the elections. The statement comes as 58 Lok Sabha seats across eight states and UTs vote in phase 6.
The poll body, “strengthened” by Supreme Court’s decision, said it has “decided to further expand the format of release of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency, which of course is discernable Parliamentary Constituency wise by all citizens themselves by applying the turnout percentage to total electors, both already made available in public domain.”
The Supreme Court earlier rejected a plea filed by an NGO demanding immediate release of authenticated voter turnout records and declined to issue any directions to the EC.
Asserting that the voter turnout data was always available with candidates on its Voter Turnout app, the poll body said there is a “pattern of false narratives and mischievous design to vitiate electoral process”.
“The process of collection and storage of votes polled is rigorous, transparent and participative. The Commission and its officials across the states have been disseminating voter turnout data in the best possible manner, taking into account statutory considerations. The whole exercise of release of turnout data from the date of commencement of polls on 19th April 2024 has been accurate, consistent and in accordance with election laws and without any discrepancy whatsoever,” the EC said.
Will show how people are misled: CEC Rajiv Kumar
Earlier on Saturday, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar spoke about the Supreme Court decision to decline to pass any direction on the EC handling of Form 17C data and booth-wise voter turnout, and said there’s a need to dispel doubts and suspicions surrounding electoral processes.
“They have acknowledged the truth. An attempt is made to create an atmosphere of doubt. We will discuss this with everyone one day for sure,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process he stated, “What’s the play here, why are doubts created, and why are suspicions raised, we will reveal all of this one day and show everyone how people are misled. How doubts arise in people’s minds that maybe the EVMs are not working properly, maybe the voting list is incorrect, or maybe the voting numbers have been manipulated. The Supreme Court has given its answer yesterday, but we will also give our answer, and we will definitely give it.”
What the Supreme Court said
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to issue directions to the EC on an NGO’s plea for uploading polling booth-wise voter turnout data on its website during the Lok Sabha elections and favoured a “hands-off attitude” amidst an ongoing electoral process. A vacation bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma adjourned the hearing on the application filed by ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’ and said it will be heard with the NGO’s writ petition filed in 2019 after the Lok Sabha elections are over.
It said everyone wants free and fair elections but “we are also concerned that there could be mischievous people looking to take advantage”.
“The arguments on the interim application were heard. Prima facie we are not inclined to grant any relief on the interim application at this stage in view of the similarities of prayer ‘A’ of interim application with prayer ‘B’ of writ petition out of which the interim application arises. Grant of such interim relief would amount to granting the final relief in the writ petition,” the court said.
“This particular compliance which you (NGO) are insisting upon would require not only manpower but also require mandamus (a judicial writ). It is not possible during this period. We have to be conscious of the ground reality and cannot change the process mid-way,” the top court said.
(With PTI inputs)
The poll body, “strengthened” by Supreme Court’s decision, said it has “decided to further expand the format of release of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency, which of course is discernable Parliamentary Constituency wise by all citizens themselves by applying the turnout percentage to total electors, both already made available in public domain.”
The Supreme Court earlier rejected a plea filed by an NGO demanding immediate release of authenticated voter turnout records and declined to issue any directions to the EC.
Asserting that the voter turnout data was always available with candidates on its Voter Turnout app, the poll body said there is a “pattern of false narratives and mischievous design to vitiate electoral process”.
“The process of collection and storage of votes polled is rigorous, transparent and participative. The Commission and its officials across the states have been disseminating voter turnout data in the best possible manner, taking into account statutory considerations. The whole exercise of release of turnout data from the date of commencement of polls on 19th April 2024 has been accurate, consistent and in accordance with election laws and without any discrepancy whatsoever,” the EC said.
Will show how people are misled: CEC Rajiv Kumar
Earlier on Saturday, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar spoke about the Supreme Court decision to decline to pass any direction on the EC handling of Form 17C data and booth-wise voter turnout, and said there’s a need to dispel doubts and suspicions surrounding electoral processes.
“They have acknowledged the truth. An attempt is made to create an atmosphere of doubt. We will discuss this with everyone one day for sure,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process he stated, “What’s the play here, why are doubts created, and why are suspicions raised, we will reveal all of this one day and show everyone how people are misled. How doubts arise in people’s minds that maybe the EVMs are not working properly, maybe the voting list is incorrect, or maybe the voting numbers have been manipulated. The Supreme Court has given its answer yesterday, but we will also give our answer, and we will definitely give it.”
What the Supreme Court said
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to issue directions to the EC on an NGO’s plea for uploading polling booth-wise voter turnout data on its website during the Lok Sabha elections and favoured a “hands-off attitude” amidst an ongoing electoral process. A vacation bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma adjourned the hearing on the application filed by ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’ and said it will be heard with the NGO’s writ petition filed in 2019 after the Lok Sabha elections are over.
It said everyone wants free and fair elections but “we are also concerned that there could be mischievous people looking to take advantage”.
“The arguments on the interim application were heard. Prima facie we are not inclined to grant any relief on the interim application at this stage in view of the similarities of prayer ‘A’ of interim application with prayer ‘B’ of writ petition out of which the interim application arises. Grant of such interim relief would amount to granting the final relief in the writ petition,” the court said.
“This particular compliance which you (NGO) are insisting upon would require not only manpower but also require mandamus (a judicial writ). It is not possible during this period. We have to be conscious of the ground reality and cannot change the process mid-way,” the top court said.
(With PTI inputs)
Source Agencies
