ECI Finds No Evidence of Vote Rigging
May 10, 2009
As previously reported, the BJP has accused the ruling Congress Party of electoral fraud in the poll held on 16 April in Arunachal Pradesh. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rejected the BJP’s demand for a repoll in 65 voting booths.
Alok Shukla, the Deputy Election Commissioner, stated there were a number of reasons why the votes exceeded 100%. Shukla’s explanations, as per The Times of India, are as follows:
He gave the example of one polling station where 108% polling was alleged to have taken place. Shukla said this polling station had only 37 voters and all of them voted. On top of that, as per EC rules four poll staff also voted. Polling staff is given election duty certificate to cast their vote at the booth they are stationed at. “If we take four poll staff over and above the 37 voters it becomes more than 8% and the entire thing looks scandalous,” he explained.
Shukla also pointed out that a lot of names are added in the electoral roll even after the final publication as part of the process of continuous updation. Therefore, the number of registered electors was more than what the complainant gave, he said.
The results of India’s general election will be announced on 16 May 2009.