Turnout data update without total voter count leads to row
Opposition „ags issue after EC shares turnout numbers several days after two phases; CPI(M) says fears over manipulation of results remain as voter numbers can be altered at the time of counting
More than 10 days after Phase 1 and four days after Phase 2 of polling for the ongoing general elections, the Election Commission (EC) released the nal voter turnout gures for the two rounds on April 30. While Phase 1 saw a turnout of 66.14%, for Phase 2, it was 66.7%.
However, the poll body did not release the total number of voters in each constituency. The Opposition parties, which had earlier in the day raised this issue majorly on social media platforms, pointed this out after the EC released the data.
Polling was held in 102 constituencies on April 19 under Phase 1, while 88 seats went to the polls on April 26 in Phase 2.
In Phase 1, the turnout was 66.22% among men and 66.07% among women. The corresponding gures for Phase 2 were 66.99% and 66.42%, according to a statement from the EC on Tuesday.
During the last general elections in 2019, the rst phase nal turnout was shared two days after the voting. The voter turnout for the rst phase in 2019 was 69.43% and for the second phase was 69.44%.
Both phases have shown a dip in voting percentages.
Seeks transparency
After the EC released the gures late on Tuesday, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury posted on ◣: “Finally ECI has put out the nal voter turnout gures for the rst 2 phases which are substantially, not marginally as is normal, higher than the initial gures. But why are the absolute numbers of voters in each parliamentary constituency not put out? Percentages are meaningless unless this gure is known.”
“Apprehensions of manipulation of results continue as total voter numbers can be altered at the time of counting. Total number of voters in each constituency was always available on ECI website till 2014! ECI must be transparent and put out this data”.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said: “Four days after Phase 2 ends, Election Commission releases nal voting gures. A bump up ( jump in turnout) of 5.75% from what EC released 4 days ago! Is this normal? What am I missing here?”
Earlier in the day, Opposition leaders questioned the delay in sharing of data by the EC. In a post on ◣, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said: “For the rst time, even 11 days after the rst phase of the polls and four days after the second phase, the nal voter turnout has not been published by the ECI. In the past, ECI used to publish the nal voter turnout immediately after voting or within 24 hours. Only approximate polling gures are available on ECI’s website. What accounts for this delay?”
“Additionally, the number of registered voters in each Lok Sabha constituency and the Assembly constituencies included in that Lok Sabha constituency is also not available on the Commission’s website,” he posted on ◣.
Mr. Yechury also pointed out that the delay in the release of data was “very disturbing”. “This raises serious apprehensions on manipulation of results,” he said.