EC Invites Congress Delegation On 3 December, Assures Review Of All "Legitimate" Concerns Over Maharashtra Poll Results

Asserting that a transparent process is followed with the involvement of candidates and their agents at every stage of the voting process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has invited a Congress delegation to meet it on 3 December to address concerns about voting percentages in the Maharashtra elections.

Congress had also raised some apprehensions about the EVM process after the Haryana assembly polls.

The poll panel has said it will review all "legitimate concerns" of Congress and provide written response after hearing the party's delegation.

In its interim reply to Congress, the ECI reiterated that there is a transparent process with the involvement of candidates or their agents at every stage.

Addressing Congress’s concerns about voter turnout data, the ECI emphasised that there is no discrepancy in voter turnout data which is available with all candidates polling station-wise and is verifiable.

"The gap in 5 PM polling data and final voter turnout is due to procedural priorities, as presiding officers perform multiple statutory duties near the close of the poll before updating voter turnout data. As an additional disclosure measure, ECI press note, at around 11:45 pm, was thus introduced during the 2024 General Elections and followed subsequently during all assembly elections thereafter," the poll panel said, NDTV reported.

On Friday, Congress alleged that the "integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised" and slammed the Election Commission.

The Congress Working Committee deliberated on the issue, announcing plans to initiate a "national movement" in response.

"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.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, who briefed the media, alleged that "electoral malpractices" also influenced the result of the Haryana Assembly election.

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