INDIA bloc to meet EC tomorrow over voter turnout

Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are likely to meet the Election Commission on Friday to address their concerns regarding the timely release of absolute voter turnout figures during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, according to sources familiar with the matter. Initially slated for Thursday, the meeting was rescheduled for Friday.

In addition to discussing the voter turnout figures, the opposition leaders intend to raise the issue of alleged “use of religious symbols” by the BJP in its campaign.

The INDIA bloc, comprising parties like the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has individually communicated their worries to the poll panel regarding the purported delay in releasing voter turnout data for the first two phases.

Earlier this week, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge penned letters to various opposition leaders highlighting discrepancies in the voting data released by the Election Commission, prompting further scrutiny of the electoral process.

Responding to the opposition's claims, the Election Commission had asserted that booth-wise data of the “actual number of votes polled” is available to the candidates soon after the voting ends.