"If process is so robust, how...": Congress questions CEC Rajiv Kumar's refusal on 'voter addition'

New Delhi [India], January 8 (ANI): After Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar refuted charges of voter deletion and addition in the process, the Congress party on Wednesday asked that if the process is so robust, how the total number of eligible voters in Maharashtra seem to be more than the total adult population as estimated by the Centre's report.
In a letter, the Congress pointed out the sudden increase of nearly 50 lakh new voter additions in just four months for the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha election.
"The CEC outlined the process of voter addition in detail and claimed that the process is extremely tight-proof and robust to prevent fake voter additions. We have a simple one-line response - if the process is so robust, how is it that the total eligible electors in Maharashtra seem to be more than the total adult (18+) population as estimated by the Narendra Modi government's own report?" the party said in a statement.
Taking a jibe at the Election Commission, Congress stated that ECI seems to have enrolled 16 lakh more electors than the entire adult population in Maharashtra
"On page 229 of the November 2019 report of the National Commission on Population of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Maharashtra's estimated adult (18+) population in 2024 can be calculated as 9.54 crore, based on the five-year projections of the report. As per the Election Commission, the total enrolled electors in Maharashtra for the Vidhan Sabha election were 9.70 crores. That is, the Election Commission seems to have enrolled 16 lakh more electors than the entire adult population in Maharashtra, as estimated by the Narendra Modi government," it added.
It further said that their analysis of other states shows that on average only 90 per cent of the eligible population are enrolled as electors by Election Commission.
"How is it that for Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha alone, the EC enrolled 100% or more? Further, Aadhaar enrolment data in Maharashtra also reinforces the fact that the EC's total voter enrolment in Maharashtra may be higher than the total adult population," the party said.
"While all the other questions that we raised in our earlier letter dated December 10, 2024, about the mysterious addition of new voters remain unanswered, just this one simple data point that the EC may have registered more electors than the adult population quashes the CEC's claim that the process of voter addition and deletion is very robust and unquestionable," the Congress said.
Earlier on Tuesday, CEC Rajiv Kumar refuted charges of voter deletion saying that all the claims and objections that come up - are shared with all the political parties.
"Indian voters are extremely aware... Stories are going around regarding electoral rolls, even now. Almost 70 steps are there...in which political parties and candidates remain with us. All the claims and objections that come up - are shared with all the political parties. No deletion can be done without Form 7," he said in a press conferece.
The ECI also announced the dates for the Delhi Assembly Elections. The voting will be held on February 5 and the counting will be done on February 8. (ANI)