Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Election Office has issued a detailed clarification countering allegations raised in a report published by The Wire, which questioned the integrity of the state’s recently concluded assembly elections. The article had claimed a mismatch of over 5 lakh votes between those polled and those counted, creating a stir about potential irregularities in the electoral process.
Allegations Raised by The Wire
The report published by The Wire alleged that voter turnout data released by the Election Commission (EC) indicated 6,40,88,195 votes were polled, while the votes counted totaled 6,45,92,508. This purported mismatch of 5,04,313 votes was highlighted as a significant concern, with the report focusing on specific constituencies such as Ashti and Osmanabad to suggest irregularities.
Maharashtra CEO’s Response
In a strong rebuttal, MR Parkar, Deputy Secretary and Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, dismissed these allegations as “misleading and inaccurate.” The election office clarified that The Wire had overlooked a critical detail—the inclusion of postal ballots in the total vote count.
५,०४,३१३ अतिरिक्त मते असल्याच्या तसेच आष्टी (२३१) आणि उस्मानाबाद (२४२) या दोन विधानसभा मतदारसंघांमध्ये मतांच्या संख्येत तफावत असल्याच्या The Wire या वृ्त्तपत्रात आलेल्या वृत्ताबाबत@SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP @MahaDGIPR pic.twitter.com/qe1bkXjuUz
— ChiefElectoralOffice (@CEO_Maharashtra) November 26, 2024
Parkar explained that 5,38,225 postal ballots, which were not reflected in the voter turnout data available on the EC website, accounted for the difference.
“The total votes polled, including valid postal ballots, stand at 6,46,26,420,” Parkar stated. “The total votes counted, 6,45,92,508, is within this figure. Thus, there is no discrepancy.”
Clarifications on Constituencies
The report by The Wire specifically mentioned alleged discrepancies in Ashti and Osmanabad constituencies. The Maharashtra CEO provided a detailed breakdown to debunk these claims:
Ashti (AC 231)
Total EVM Votes: 2,82,246
Total Postal Votes Received: 5,013
Rejected Postal Votes: 475
Valid Postal Votes Counted: 4,538
Osmanabad (AC 242)
Total EVM Votes: 2,38,840
Total Postal Votes Received: 4,330
Rejected Postal Votes: 175
Valid Postal Votes Counted: 4,155
Parkar highlighted that these postal votes, verified and valid, had been misrepresented in The Wire’s analysis, leading to a sensationalised and misleading narrative.
Reasons Behind Minor Variances
The Maharashtra Election Office acknowledged that minor variances could occasionally arise in vote tallies due to technical and human factors:
Mock Poll Data: Occasionally, mock poll data conducted before voting begins may not be cleared from the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Non-Display in Control Units: Technical glitches in the control unit could lead to temporary variances in reported data.
Clerical Errors: Errors during the completion of Form 17C—a crucial document summarising voting details—may cause discrepancies.
The office assured that these issues are addressed under the Election Commission’s established protocols. Moreover, in instances where discrepancies are identified, their impact is assessed to ensure they do not affect the election outcome, particularly when the winning margin exceeds the number of disputed votes.
Maharashtra State Election CEO hits at The Wire for publishing misleading report
The Maharashtra CEO criticised The Wire for publishing the report “hastily,” without conducting adequate fact-checking. Parkar expressed concern that such unverified allegations could erode public trust in the electoral process and vitiate the atmosphere of free and fair elections.
“It is expected that the factual position will be prominently reflected to avoid misinformation,” Parkar stated. “Hastily drawn conclusions can create unnecessary doubt about the robustness of our electoral system.”
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