Kharge writes to INDIA allies over ECI’s delay in releasing poll data

• Congress President Kharge wrote a letter to INDIA allies, raising concerns over alleged delay in publishing electoral data
• Urges the parties to work  “collectively and unitedly” to ensure the independence of ECI
• Asserts, for the first time in history, ECI delayed the release of final voting percentages of 1st and 2nd phase polls
   

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge penned a letter to the INDIA allies on Tuesday, expressing concerns over the alleged delay in the publication of electoral data and urging the parties to work  “collectively and unitedly” to ensure the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Kharge noted the delay in publishing the final voting percentages for the first and second phases, stating that it "raises serious doubts on the quality of data." 

“It is in public domain on how the ECI, perhaps for the first time in history, delayed the release of the final voting percentages of the First and Second phase of the Lok Sabha elections...On earlier occasions the Commission has published voter turnout data within 24 hours of polling. What has changed this time? Why has the Commission failed to issue any clarification to justify the delay, despite being repeatedly questioned by political parties as well as political activists? Is there an issue with the EVMs?” Kharge said.

He also said that in his electoral life of 52 years, he has never witnessed such a high increment of voting percentages in the final published data.

He pointed out that in the first phase the EC said “that as on 7pm on 19.04.2024, the estimated voter turnout was around 60%, while similarly for the Second Phase (88 Seats), the estimated voter turnout was around 60.96 %. Why is it that on 20.04.2024, the Commission’s projected voter turnout for the First Phase was increased to 65.5% and on 27.04.2024, for the Second Phase the voter turnout data increased to 66.7%.