The electoral fever continues with three phases completed and the fourth set for May 13. Just before this next phase, the Election Commission has released updated voting figures from the third phase, revealing a final voter turnout of 65.68%.
Previously, right after the election, initial reports indicated a 64.40% turnout, but the latest figures released on Saturday mark an approximate 1% increase over those early estimates.
Election Commission Released Figure Post-Voting
Shortly after phase three voting concluded, the Election Commission announced a 64.40% turnout. Despite the Electoral body’s multiple efforts, the third phase's participation failed to surpass 2019 levels. Lower turnout was notably recorded in the states of Bihar, Maharashtra, UP, and Gujarat.
Source: aajtak
What Percent Voted in Phase 3 of 2019?
Data from 2019 showed a 67.33% turnout, indicating nearly a 2% decrease this election cycle. According to the Election Commission, UP, Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are the states where this drop was most notable. On May 7th, polling took place for 10 seats in UP, 5 in Bihar, 25 in Gujarat, and 11 in Maharashtra—a total of 51 seats where the least voting occurred.
The Commission released these figures at a time when Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the delay in announcing voting percentages.
Congress President Questioned Delays
The Congress President wrote to his colleagues within the INDIA bloc, emphasizing the current elections are a battle to safeguard 'democracy and constitution.' He raised concerns about the excessive delays in publishing final voting percentages and inconsistencies in the released data, which he suggested cast serious doubt on the elections' credibility.
Kharge asserted the current battles are pivotal for preserving our democracy and constitution, and it is our collective duty to voice concerns and hold the ECI accountable for responsible conduct of its affairs.
Furthermore, Kharge questioned the delay in data releases by the Election Commission and the absence of a clear explanation for these lags, raising concerns about the missing key information in the released data. He called upon all allied parties to stand against any potential irregularities.
Election Commission Dismisses Kharge's Comments as Unnecessary
The Election Commission has described Kharge's statements as an unwarranted aggression toward crucial aspects of election conduction. The allegations regarding the timing of the voting data release were found to be baseless, potentially causing confusion and undermining confidence in the electoral process. Such statements might also negatively impact voter participation and the morale of the extensive election apparatus.
The Commission criticized Kharge's statement, which challenged the integrity of the electoral process and expressed that it could negatively affect the electoral proceedings. The Commission deemed Kharge's response as groundless. Presenting voting data during the election could unnecessarily create confusion. Additionally, the Commission's official 'Voter Turnout' app already provides live updates of the voting percentages to the public.
The Election Commission has taken notice of Kharge's letter addressing India coalition leaders concerning voter turnout data and dismissed it as unneeded while rejecting his arguments outright.
