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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Election Commission released official figures on Tuesday after 11 days of voting in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections and four days of voting in the second phase. Marxist Communist Party leader Sitaram Yechury, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien and political analyst Yogendra Yadav have questioned this figure. He asked how the voting percentage had increased so much compared to the initial figures and why the number of voters was not disclosed.
The Election Commission said that 66.14% voting took place in the first phase and 66.71% voting took place in the second phase. In the elections held for 102 seats in the first phase, 66.22% male and 66.07% female voters exercised their franchise. While 31.32% registered transgender voters voted. At the same time, the second phase of voting was completed on 26 April, in which 66.99% male voters and 66.42% female voters exercised their franchise for 88 seats. Transgender registered voters polled 23.86% in the second phase.
Fear of manipulation in results
Regarding these figures of the Election Commission, Sitaram Yechury wrote on 'X' that the Election Commission has finally declared the final figures of the first two phases of voting, which are generally not insignificant but are much more than the initial figures. But why was the complete number of voters in each parliamentary constituency not declared? This voting percentage is meaningless unless its figures are stated. He further wrote that there is a possibility of manipulation in the results as some polling numbers may be changed during counting. Till 2014, the total number of voters in each constituency was always available on the Election Commission's website. The Commission should be transparent and present this data.
Election Commission will have to answer
In another post, Yechury wrote, I am talking about the total number of registered voters in each constituency, not the number of votes cast. Which will be known only after counting of postal ballots. Why is some number of voters not being declared in each constituency? The Election Commission will have to answer.
Increase in voting percentage by 5.75%
Four days after the conclusion of the crucial second phase, the Election Commission has released the final voting figures, O'Brien wrote on Twitter. An increase of 5.75% from the numbers announced by the Election Commission four days ago! Is this normal? What am I not understanding here?
Data was available within 24 hours
On the other hand, political analyst Yogendra Yadav wrote on X, I have watched and studied Indian elections for 35 years. A difference of 3 to 5% between initial and final polling figures was not unusual, with final figures becoming available to us within 24 hours. The unusual and worrying thing this time is that there was a delay of 11 days in releasing the first and final figures. Secondly, the actual number of voters and the number of votes cast for each constituency and its constituents have not been disclosed. Voting percentage does not help in election audit. This information is recorded in Form 17 for each booth and is available with the candidate's agent, but only the Election Commission can verify the complete information to eliminate the possibility of any manipulation or discrepancy between the votes polled and the votes counted. Can and must provide data. The Election Commission should also clarify further delays and sudden changes in the reporting format.