New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has addressed claims of a false campaign aimed at discrediting the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The ECI took to social media platform X, stating, “False campaign is being run by some (other than candidates) in furtherance of design to discredit largest elections ever held in the history of mankind in a most transparent manner involving candidates and stakeholders at every stage of elections.”Unfounded Comparisons HighlightedThe ECI emphasized that unfounded attempts are being made to compare voter turnout figures at 7 pm on polling day with the final turnout figures, which are released the day after the election. “Unfounded attempts are made to compare the approximate turnout figure at 7 pm on poll day (when many PS might be closing poll and/or voters waiting in line) with End of Poll turnout available a day after poll day,” the ECI clarified.Legitimate Challenges and Election PetitionsThe ECI further explained that legitimate means to challenge an electoral outcome involve filing an Election Petition under the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1951. The poll body noted a decrease in the number of Election Petitions (EPs) filed in the 2024 General Elections compared to the 2019 General Elections. “While legitimate means to challenge an electoral outcome by a candidate or elector are through an Election Petition u/ RPA 1951, no EP is reportedly filed on such grounds. A lesser number of EPs have been reportedly filed in 79 PCs in GE 2024 as against 138 EPs in GE 2019, the ECI added.Congress and VFD Maharashtra ReportThe clarification comes after the Congress cited a report by the citizens platform Vote for Democracy (VFD) Maharashtra, which raised concerns about discrepancies in voter turnout and counting. The report, released in Mumbai, claimed significant discrepancies between the votes polled and counted and a substantial unexplained hike in turnout percentages. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit urged the ECI to address these doubts.
