ECI publishes absolute poll results for five stages

NEW DELHI: Calling it a “pattern of false narratives and malicious intent to disrupt the electoral process”, the Election Commission, while releasing the absolute number of votes polled in the first five phases on Saturday, said the voter turnout data was always promptly communicated available through an app from 9:30 a.m. on voting days.

In an official statement, the poll panel said it felt “duly strengthened” by the Supreme Court’s ruling refusing to hear an application to order the Commission to publish final voter turnout data at all polling stations on its website.

“This new format will take into account the absolute number of voters in each constituency,” it said, adding that it represented an assurance to the commission that any change in the number of votes cast “is impossible.”

Incidentally, the committee’s comments come after the Opposition questioned the delay in the publication of the final voter turnout data after the first and second phases of voting and alleged discrepancies in them on the part of the research panel.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the EC’s “credibility” is “at an all-time low”.

In response, the Commission reiterated that the entire process of collecting and storing votes is rigorous, transparent and participatory. He added that there was a “pattern of false narratives and malicious intent intended to distort the electoral process.”

“The commission and its statewide officials disseminate voter turnout data in the best manner possible given statutory considerations,” the survey panel said.

She also stressed that authorized representatives of all candidates have Form 17C, which records the total number of votes cast in each of the approximately 10.5 lakh polling stations in 543 parliamentary constituencies.

The commission said that the total number of votes cast in the poll and recorded in Form 17C cannot be changed as it is available to all the contesting candidates.