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A Congress delegation led by Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, on Tuesday met the Election Commission over its apprehensions concerning the voting in Maharashtra elections.
ECI has invited the Congress today regarding their concerns and issues on the Assembly polls. Addressing the media afterwards, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi alleged that between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharashtra, around 47 lakh voters' names were added to the list. "If elections are not conducted properly, it undermines the fundamental structure of the Constitution. Our submission was that the Election Commission should extract data and provide facts on the issues we have raised, based on which we will conclude," he said. "Our first issue was about the large-scale deletion of voters' names in Maharashtra. We have stated that the prescribed forms and procedures for this process must be followed, and we need detailed data, booth-wise and constituency-wise, to understand the basis of such extensive deletions. This data is currently unavailable. It will help ascertain the grounds on which such a large number of deletions occurred," Singhvi further said. "Our second point was about additions to the voter list. We noted that in the nearly five months between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, around 47 lakh voters' names were added. Where are the forms for these additions? On what basis was door-to-door verification conducted? We need that raw data," he added. The Congress leader also pointed out a seven per cent difference in voter turnout. "The third and most significant issue pertains to voter turnout. According to the Election Commission's data, three figures emerge--58.22 per cent by 5 PM, 65.02 per cent by 11:30 PM, and a final figure of 67 per cent after two days. This discrepancy of nearly 7 per cent could change the entire scenario. We were informed that voter turnout is a separate process from Form 17-C, but we have requested raw data because this difference could alter the entire outcome," Abhishek Singhvi said. He also alleged that there are 118 constituencies where polling increased by 25,000 or more votes between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. "This unnatural increase mostly occurred in constituencies where the ruling party secured victory. While they have provided satisfactory verbal responses on several points, they have assured us that they will provide written replies as well," he added. Congress has alleged that the "integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised" and slammed the Election Commission. The issue was discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting and the party said it will launch a "national movement." "The Congress Working Committee (CWC) believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission. Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take up these public concerns as a national movement," the Congress statement said. (ANI)
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