“False Campaign” Claims ECI in Response to Congress Concerns Over Voter Turnout

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th August. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has dismissed recent concerns raised by the Congress regarding a significant increase in voter turnout after polling hours during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The ECI described the allegations as part of a “false campaign” intended to discredit the integrity of the elections.

In a statement on X, the ECI rebutted the claims, asserting that attempts to undermine the transparency of the elections are unfounded. The commission emphasized that the turnout figures reported at 7 p.m. on election day, when many polling stations were closing or had long queues, are not directly comparable to the final turnout figures released the following day. The ECI reaffirmed that electoral data and outcomes adhere strictly to statutory procedures.

The ECI noted that legitimate challenges to electoral outcomes should be made through formal Election Petitions under the Representation of the People Act (RPA) of 1951. According to the commission, fewer petitions have been filed in the 2024 general elections compared to the previous 2019 elections.

The controversy began when Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit highlighted discrepancies in voter turnout figures reported by the civil society group Vote for Democracy, Maharashtra. Dikshit questioned the accuracy of the reported turnout, particularly the large increase after 7 p.m., and urged the ECI to address these concerns.