The Election Commission of India (ECI) has refuted allegations of irregularities in voter turnout during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, labeling claims made by the civil society group Vote for Democracy as part of a misleading campaign. The ECI asserts that the increase in turnout figures reported after polling hours is due to the procedural nature of the counting process and emphasizes that there is no substantial evidence supporting the claims of electoral manipulation.
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- The Congress raised concerns about a significant increase in voter turnout after polling hours during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has dismissed these concerns, calling them a “false campaign” aimed at discrediting the elections.
- The ECI stated that the comparisons being made between turnout figures at 7 p.m. and the final figures are misleading.
- It emphasized that electoral data and outcomes adhere strictly to statutory forms and procedures.
- The ECI noted that no Election Petitions (EPs) challenging the election outcomes on these grounds have been filed.
- The number of EPs filed in 2024 was lower compared to the 2019 general elections.
- A report by the civil society group Vote for Democracy claims a cumulative increase of 4.65 crore votes in 79 seats across 15 states.
- The report suggests that this increase may have disproportionately benefited the BJP-led NDA.
- Congress Secretary Sandeep Dikshit criticized the discrepancy between initial and final turnout figures and urged the ECI to address these concerns.
- Dikshit expressed skepticism about the high voter turnout after 7 p.m., questioning the credibility of the reported figures.
