EC refutes poll rigging claims citing official 2024 Haryana, Maharashtra data
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) sources have firmly rejected allegations of vote mismatches and possible rigging in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, describing claims of large gaps between votes cast and votes counted as based on a basic misreading of official records. Referring to assertions that in seats such as Badkhal, the number of votes polled far exceeded those counted on electronic voting machines (EVMs), ECI sources pointed to the commission's Assembly constituency (AC)-wise voters information for the 2024 Haryana poll. Accordingly, in Badkhal (AC 87), the records list 3,32,253 total electors. Of these, 1,60,553 electors voted, delivering a poll percentage of 48.32. After postal rejections (26), EVM rejected votes (543) and NOTA (1,509), exactly 1,58,475 valid votes were recorded. The figures align completely; the widely circulated 3.32 lakh votes polled figure is simply the total number of voters on the electoral rolls, not the number who voted. In Ellenabad (AC 46), 1,95,868 electors were registered and 1,58,707 voted (poll percentage 81.03). After accounting for 253 rejected postal votes and 545 NOTA votes, 1,57,909 valid votes were declared. In Gurgaon (AC 77), an urban seat with lower turnout, 4,43,593 electors were on the rolls and 2,30,147 voted (51.88 per cent). Valid votes stood at 2,29,029 after standard deductions. In Badshahpur (AC 76), 5,21,969 electors yielded 2,83,131 votes polled (54.24 per cent) and 2,80,482 valid votes. In Kalka (AC 1), 2,02,394 electors produced 1,45,961 votes (72.12 per cent) and 1,45,220 valid votes. The biggest such discrepancy is in Maharashtra's Mumbai North Parliamentary constituency, reports said. According to the ECI's internal records, reports alleged, total votes polled were 18.11 lakh in the constituency, but according to the result declared by the Commission, 10.33 lakh votes were cast in the constituency. This means, a whopping 7.78 lakh votes, 42.8 per cent of the votes polled, were not counted on the EVMs. While ECI sources clarified that claims of a massive mismatch in Mumbai North, stemmed from a basic error. The constituency had 18.12 lakh registered electors on the rolls. Of these, 10.33 lakh actually voted, recording a turnout of about 57 per cent. Valid votes matched the polled figures after routine deductions for NOTA and rejections. The widely cited 18.11 lakh votes polled figure was simply the total number of electors, not the votes cast. No discrepancy exists between votes polled and votes counted. Statewide, Haryana recorded 2,04,63,841 total electors and 1,39,13,879 electors who voted, for an overall turnout of 67.99 per cent. Valid votes totalled 1,38,37,980 after all rejections and NOTA. These numbers are drawn directly from the authenticated returns filed by Returning Officers. ECI sources pointed out that minor differences between electors who voted and final valid votes are routine and legally accounted forvoters who enter the booth but do not vote, invalidated postal ballots, or test votes. Large unexplained gaps of the kind alleged would have triggered statutory investigation under the Conduct of Election Rules. No such gaps exist in the Haryana data. The commission sources reiterated that primary records, including Form 17C, remain the sole authoritative source. Secondary analyses that confuse total electors with actual votes polled create artificial discrepancies. Constituency-level data continues to be available through official ECI channels for verification. Claims of systemic rigging or uncounted votes running into lakhs in the 2024 Haryana polls stand refuted by the commission's own audited figures.
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'Absence I felt personally': Sonia Gandhi on ex-secretary Ahmed Patel's death
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, in her memoir 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', remembered her closest political advisers, late Ahmed Patel, saying that his death left a vacuum in the party and an absence that she personally felt. However, Sonia Gandhi got Patel's death year wrong in her book, released on Tuesday, mentioning it as 2022, instead of 2020, when he died due to Covid-related complications. He (Ahmed Patel) remained my political secretary till sadly he fell victim to the Covid epidemic in 2022, leaving a vacuum in the party and an absence I felt personally, she wrote about Patel. Ahmed Patel, also the Congress' former Treasurer, had tested positive for the Covid-19 on October 1, 2020 and had been admitted to the ICU of Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon on November 15. He died 10 days later, on November 25. However, the book wrongly mentions Ahmed Patel's death year as 2022. Ahmed Patel, AP as he was called in the party, was believed to be part of every key decision made by Sonia Gandhi. He was the Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat and had also advised former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi. As a Youth Congress leader, Patel was chosen at 28 by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 1977 from Bharuch in Gujarat. Patel reportedly refused to join the government and preferred to remain behind the scenes, advising Sonia Gandhi on alliances, political strategy and party crises. A loyal party colleague, approachable day and night, he (Ahmed Patel) came to play an important role as a troubleshooter, ready to listen patiently to disgruntled colleagues. Deeply religious but secular to the core in his politics, he kept a low profile while functioning as a coordinator between our party and our allies, the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson said in her memoir. While mourning Patel's death in 2020, Sonia Gandhi wrote she lost an irreplaceable comrade, faithful colleague and friend. Meanwhile, Congress leaders, on Tuesday, welcomed the veteran leader's memoir, describing it as an important literary work and saying that it offers insights into her personal and political journey.
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