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The Election Commission of India (ECI) held a press conference on Tuesday to address concerns and allegations surrounding the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, in a rather unusual start, began with a shayari, emphasizing the importance of providing answers to the various questions raised about the electoral process. This proactive approach aimed to quell anxieties and demonstrate transparency before announcing the election dates, scheduled for February 5th, with counting on February 8th.
A significant portion of the press conference focused on refuting allegations of manipulation in the voter list. The CEC categorically stated that no names are deleted without rigorous documentation, field verification, and due process, including an opportunity for affected individuals to be heard. He highlighted the extensive involvement of political parties at every stage of the voter list preparation, emphasizing that weekly lists of claims and objections are shared, and both draft and final rolls are published online for public scrutiny. The process, he insisted, leaves no room for manipulation and any suggestion of widespread deletions without evidence is misleading. The ECI defended its procedures for adding names, emphasizing the collaborative efforts with political party representatives and the regular meetings held to address concerns. The CEC clarified that comparing the final voter turnout rate (VTR) with the 5 pm data is inappropriate, given that some polling stations report significantly later.
Addressing the persistent concerns regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the CEC firmly stated that allegations of tampering are baseless. He cited numerous court rulings – over 42 instances – affirming the integrity and security of the EVMs, emphasizing their foolproof nature. The ECI pointed out the lack of any credible evidence suggesting EVM unreliability, the possibility of introducing viruses or bugs, or the occurrence of invalid votes. The Commission further reinforced its claims by highlighting the rigorous verification process involving Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. Since 2019, over 67,000 VVPATs have been checked, representing more than 4.5 crore slips, with no discrepancies found between the EVM count and the VVPAT verification. This comprehensive verification process, mandated by the Supreme Court, further strengthens the ECI's assertion that the EVM system is secure and reliable.
The ECI also defended its recent amendment to election rules, which restricts public access to CCTV footage from polling booths. The CEC argued that this measure is crucial for safeguarding voter privacy and preventing the misuse of data for creating false narratives. He raised concerns about the potential for exploiting this footage through machine learning and AI to generate deceptive content, emphasizing that even fact-checkers might struggle to discern genuine videos from AI-generated ones. This decision, implemented after the government acted on the ECI's recommendation, aims to protect the integrity of the electoral process and prevent the spread of misinformation.
The press conference comes in the wake of opposition parties, specifically the AAP and Congress, raising concerns about irregularities in electoral processes. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had accused the BJP of tampering with voter lists in Delhi, alleging an unusual increase in modifications. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also voiced similar concerns during the Maharashtra and Haryana elections, even calling for a return to ballot papers. The ECI's comprehensive response directly addressed these concerns, aiming to assure the public of the fairness and transparency of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. The ECI's proactive efforts to address these concerns highlight its commitment to conducting free and fair elections.
In conclusion, the Election Commission of India’s press conference served as a platform to address various concerns and allegations surrounding the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The ECI's robust defense of its processes, combined with the presentation of verifiable data and court rulings, aimed to allay fears and reassure the public of the integrity of the electoral system. While opposition parties continue to express concerns, the ECI's transparent response demonstrates its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.