Election Commission of India refutes allegations on Maharashtra Assembly polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a detailed rebuttal to the allegations raised by the Indian National Congress (INC) regarding the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in 2024. In its response, the ECI has categorically stated that the elections were conducted in a transparent and lawful manner, and that the concerns raised by INC were based on unsubstantiated claims.

According to the ECI, the voter turnout during the elections was consistent with historical trends. A total of 6,40,87,588 electors cast their votes between 7 am and 6 pm on the day of the election. The average number of votes cast per hour stood at approximately 58 lakh. Given this trend, it was expected that around 116 lakh voters could have cast their ballots in the final two hours. The ECI further clarified that the 65 lakh votes recorded during this period were well within the expected range and did not constitute any anomaly.

The Election Commission also addressed the allegations of irregularities in polling. The ECI stated that at every polling booth, voting took place in the presence of polling agents appointed by various political parties, including the INC. Moreover, no formal or substantiated complaints were made by INC’s candidates or their agents during the scrutiny of votes by the Returning Officer (RO) or Election Observers the day after the election.

The ECI emphasized that the electoral rolls used in the Maharashtra elections were prepared in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. It noted that a Special Summary Revision of the Electoral Rolls is conducted before elections or once every year. The final electoral rolls, which were made available to all political parties, including INC, were subjected to public scrutiny. The ECI revealed that only 89 appeals were filed before the first appellate authority (District Magistrate) and just one appeal before the second appellate authority (Chief Electoral Officer). This, the ECI argued, further proved that there were no significant grievances raised by INC or other parties prior to the elections.

The Commission also responded to allegations about the integrity of the booth-level electoral process. It clarified that for the 1,00,427 polling booths across Maharashtra, 97,325 Booth Level Officers were appointed by Election Registration Officers (EROs). In addition, 1,03,727 Booth Level Agents were appointed by political parties, including 27,099 by INC itself. These appointments ensured transparency and compliance with the law, thereby invalidating any claims of malpractice.

The ECI strongly defended the entire election process, reiterating that it was conducted in strict adherence to the law. The preparation of electoral rolls, polling, and counting procedures were all carried out by government staff under the supervision of authorised representatives appointed by political parties and candidates. The ECI condemned any attempt to spread misinformation, stressing that such actions not only disrespect the law but also tarnish the reputation of the election staff and the electoral process as a whole.

The Election Commission stated that allegations against the integrity of the electoral process, particularly after an unfavorable election outcome, were unfounded and baseless. It described attempts to discredit the election process and the ECI as "absurd" and harmful to the credibility of India's democracy. The Commission called on all political parties to respect the democratic process and work towards maintaining the integrity of the elections.