CEC Rajiv Kumar Slams ‘Fake Narrative’ Questioning Voter Turnout Data During Lok Sabha Elections

A day before the Lok Sabha election results, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, on Monday, June 3, asserted the robustness of the counting mechanism and emphasized the codified process to ensure accuracy. Addressing the delay concerns in releasing final voter turnout during the seven-phase general elections, Kumar criticized those spreading false narratives about faulty voter lists and turnout data.

Rajiv Kumar, speaking at a New Delhi press conference, refrained from naming individuals but highlighted his understanding of the misleading claims circulating during the elections. The Congress party had previously raised concerns about the significant discrepancies between real-time voter turnout data and the final figures released by the Election Commission, which they claimed caused voter unease.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, questioned the delay in releasing the final voter turnout. Rajiv Kumar clarified that the counting process for postal ballots would begin before the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were tallied. He referenced Section 54 A of the Representation of the People Act, introduced in 1954, noting that the current protocol has been consistently applied in recent elections, including the 2019 general elections and the 2022 Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Rajiv Kumar stressed the integrity and reliability of the counting process, underscoring the involvement of numerous officials, counting agents, micro-observers, and other personnel in the world’s largest electoral exercise. He noted that EVMs were randomized in the presence of candidates and agents, ensuring transparency.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had earlier alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah made calls to 150 district magistrates shortly before the scheduled vote count on June 4. In response, the Election Commission of India (ECI) sought detailed information from the Congress regarding these claims.

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The ECI press conference followed a meeting with leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, who requested clear, detailed guidelines for the vote-counting process. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi emphasized the importance of counting and announcing postal ballots first, criticizing deviations from this statutory rule established in 2019.

Kumar highlighted the presence of the largest-ever global delegation of 75 observers from 23 countries, who were impressed by India’s electoral scale, planning, and integrity. He mentioned the 4Ms—Muscle, Money, Misinformation, and MCC Violations—addressed to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.

Kumar concluded by noting the unprecedented absence of violence in this general election, attributing this success to two years of meticulous preparation.

Most exit polls predict a clear majority for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, with some forecasting the NDA achieving the ambitious “400 paar” target set by BJP leaders during the campaign.