5,04,313 'Additional' Votes Counted In Maharashtra? State Electoral Officer’s Strong Rebuttal To The Wire Report
Mumbai, Maharashtra: The Maharashtra State Election Office has issued a firm rebuttal to allegations raised in a report by The Wire regarding discrepancies in the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections. The report claimed a mismatch of 5,04,313 votes between those polled and counted, sparking concerns about the accuracy of the electoral process.
The Allegations
According to The Wire, voter turnout data released by the Election Commission (EC) indicated 6,40,88,195 votes were polled. However, the total votes counted reportedly amounted to 6,45,92,508, resulting in 5,04,313 additional votes. The report highlighted discrepancies in constituencies like Ashti and Osmanabad, suggesting irregularities in vote counting.
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Electoral Officer’s Clarification
M.R. Parkar, Deputy Secretary and Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, dismissed the report as “misleading and inaccurate.” He emphasised that The Wire had failed to account for 5,38,225 postal ballots, which were not included in the voter turnout data released on the EC website.
“The total votes polled, including valid postal ballots, stand at 6,46,26,420. The total votes counted, 6,45,92,508, is within this figure. Thus, there is no discrepancy,” Parkar clarified in a statement addressed to The Wire.
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Specific Clarifications on Key Constituencies
The electoral officer also addressed allegations concerning Ashti and Osmanabad constituencies.
Ashti (AC 231):
Total EVM Votes: 2,82,246
Total Postal Votes: 5,013
Rejected Postal Votes: 475
Valid Postal Votes Counted: 4,538
Osmanabad (AC 242):
Total EVM Votes: 2,38,840
Total Postal Votes: 4,330
Rejected Postal Votes: 175
Valid Postal Votes Counted: 4,155
Parkar noted that The Wire misrepresented valid postal votes as discrepancies, thereby sensationalising the issue.
Reasons for Minor Variances
The election office explained that minor variances in certain constituencies could arise due to:
Mock poll data not being cleared from EVMs, Non-display of results in control units and Clerical or human errors in Form 17C.
These variances are handled according to established Election Commission protocols, particularly when the winning margin is larger than the number of votes impacted.
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Criticism of the Report
The election office criticised The Wire for publishing the report “hastily” without verifying facts, potentially creating a false narrative that undermines public trust in the electoral process.
“It is expected that the factual position will be prominently reflected to avoid misinformation. Hastily drawn conclusions can vitiate the electoral atmosphere,” Parkar stated
