Deshmukh questions increased turnout of voters in two phases

Nagpur: Senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh has questioned considerable delay in the Election Commission of India’s announcement on increased voting percentage in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections. Voting for Vidarbha’s 10 LS constituencies was held over two phases on April 19 and 26. Deshmukh, former Maharashtra home minister in MVA government, said ECI declared final polling figures approximately 11 days after the first phase and four days after the second.“Is it an error on ECI’s part or was the voting percentage increased under pressure from the Central government? How did the percentage suddenly rise in a digital era?” Deshmukh questioned.Deshmukh’s statement comes at a time when BJP criticized ECI for low voting percentage and the omission of lakhs of voters’ names in Nagpur LS constituency. “Previously, data on the total number of votes cast and voter turnout percentage used to be declared to public late on the polling day,” he stated.Referring to ECI website, Deshmukh mentioned voting took place in 13 LS constituencies in Maharashtra in first two phases. “The average voter turnout was 59.56% for the first two phases in the state. This figure was declared to be 62.71% — showing an average increase of 3.15% — which is significant. Except for Nagpur, an increased voter turnout was observed across all regions, particularly Chandrapur, where the initial turnout was 60.35% as against 67.55% post-revision,” he said.Nagpur: Senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh has questioned considerable delay in the Election Commission of India’s announcement on increased voting percentage in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections. Voting for Vidarbha’s 10 LS constituencies was held over two phases on April 19 and 26. Deshmukh, former Maharashtra home minister in MVA government, said ECI declared final polling figures approximately 11 days after the first phase and four days after the second.“Is it an error on ECI’s part or was the voting percentage increased under pressure from the Central government? How did the percentage suddenly rise in a digital era?” Deshmukh questioned.Deshmukh’s statement comes at a time when BJP criticized ECI for low voting percentage and the omission of lakhs of voters’ names in Nagpur LS constituency. “Previously, data on the total number of votes cast and voter turnout percentage used to be declared to public late on the polling day,” he stated.Referring to ECI website, Deshmukh mentioned voting took place in 13 LS constituencies in Maharashtra in first two phases. “The average voter turnout was 59.56% for the first two phases in the state. This figure was declared to be 62.71% — showing an average increase of 3.15% — which is significant. Except for Nagpur, an increased voter turnout was observed across all regions, particularly Chandrapur, where the initial turnout was 60.35% as against 67.55% post-revision,” he said.