CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury writes to CEC Kumar over delays, discrepancies in release of voting figures by ECI
May 03, 2024
New Delhi [India], May 3 : CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury wrote a letter to Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner, on Friday raising concern over delays and discrepancies in the release of voting figures by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
According to the official press statement by the CPI-M general secretary, "It is really surprising that after an inordinate and unexplained delay of eleven days, the final figures for the percentage of votes cast during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections have been made available."
"In the case of the second phase, the delay was four days. Unfortunately, the ECl has not come out with any explanation for the cause of this undue delay. What goes unanswered is also a surge of 6 per cent from the initial figures that the ECl put out and the final figure," it said.
The statement further said, "While it is plausible that there may be a slight variation between the initial and the final figures, this variation of six per cent is unusual and raises some suspicion. Also, while the percentages have been disclosed, the voting figures (number of votes polled) have not yet been provided."
"In the interests of transparency and credibility of the process, it is incumbent that the ECI clear the doubts that have arisen in this regard. It should provide state-wise, constituency-wise and assembly segment-wise break-up of the initial and final percentage as well as the number of votes cast," it added.
The statement read, "Further, it also needs to be clarified as to how much under which category this rise has taken place - EVMs, Postal Ballots, votes at Facilitation Centres for personnel on duty etc."
Earlier on April 28, the Yechury had written to the poll body against Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur for inciting hatred against a community.
Taking to X Yechury, he urged the Election Commission to take action against Anurag Thakur, Otherwise, he says people will lose all faith in the Election Commission's ability to conduct free and fair elections.
"Before people lose all faith in this Election Commission's ability to conduct a 'free and fair' poll the ECI must act. Earlier, ECI had disenfranchised those who gave such incendiary communal speeches," he said.
