AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, June 1 (TIWN): Just like Congress’s Tripura MP candidate Subal Bhowmik in a ward received “zero” vote, in same way across India similar allegations are coming of unexpected votes ward-wise. Already a viral news reported by Indian media “The Quint” where Vote Count Mismatch’ in 370+ seats found and ECI rejected to reply the media house has created turmoil across nation. Seeing the peaceless situation and “doubt on democracy”, former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi on Saturday said there was no possibility of manipulating the EVM-VVPAT system, but the Election Commission should explain to the opposition and the people by clearing doubts about it. “EC Must Clear Doubts About EVM-VVPAT System”, he said. “Every time you press the button, it will have the same figure. I don't even understand the allegations. However, the EC should convince the Opposition and people that the system is foolproof. We have to take people along”, he said.

On the very day when BJP led Govt has formed the cabinet in its second term for 2019-2014, a sensational news is going viral which has acted as the first move of ‘democratic protest’ when all media have stopped criticizing Modi and the opposition leaders amid their resentments on EC till now could not dare to raise voice on the alleged Vote-Manipulation. The media is named “Quint” much popular among young generation across the country. The Quint has deep-dived into two sets of data shared by the Election Commission of India (EC); first, the voter turnout/votes polled data on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and second, the votes counted data on EVMs in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. We have found serious discrepancies in the two sets of data in 373 constituencies which went to polls in the first four phases of the election.In Kancheepuram, Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu, the EC data says 12,14,086EVM votes were polled, and 12,32,417 EVM votes counted – a surplus of 18,331 EVM votes. Why? No answer from EC.

In Dharmapuri, Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu, the EC data says 11,94,440EVM votes were polled, and 12,12,311 EVM votes counted – a surplus 17,871 EVM votes. Why? No answer from EC.

In Sriperumbudur, Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu, the EC data says 13,88,666 EVM votes were polled, and 14,03,178 EVM votes counted. A surplus of 14,512 EVM votes. Why? No answer from EC.

In Mathura, Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, the EC data says 10,88,206 EVM votes were polled, and 10,98,112 EVM votes counted. A surplus of 9,906EVM votes. Why? No answer from EC.

These are four of highest surpluses in the data.

Of the 373 constituencies polled in the first four phases, there were surplus votes counted in over 220 of them – in the rest, vote deficits were recorded.

Quint said, “EC Pulled Down the Votes Polled Data After The Quint Demanded Answers………………The Quint has taken into account only the first four phases – the EC website clearly stated “Final Voter turnout of Phase 1,2,3 and 4 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019”.

“We did not delve into phase 5, 6 and 7 data of votes polled because the EC’s website mentioned it as ‘estimated’ data. Early on 27 May, The Quint had emailed the EC questions on the discrepancies in all 373 constituencies . An EC officer even contacted us saying that they will send a reply soon. By afternoon, on the same day, we found that the ticker mentioning “final voter turnout” mysteriously disappeared from the EC’s website eciresults.nic.in. “, stated Quint.

When we asked the EC why the ticker and the data has been removed from the website, there was no response.

Later in the evening, we got an email from the EC clarifying the votes polled of only one constituency. The EC also said that this data is not complete and it might be revised later.

We again wrote to the EC demanding answers for the discrepancies in other constituencies. We attached with our email all the documents on phases 1 to 4 – all votes polled data downloaded from the EC’s official website. But EC’s reply is still awaited.

We also made several attempts to meet senior EC officials to get answers on such a serious issue, but no officer agreed to meet us.

The question is, is it not surprising that four days (27 May) after the counting is over, the EC is still claiming to The Quint that the vote polled data is being compiled? Why is the EC taking so much time to compile the votes polled data?

As per procedure, on polling day, it is the duty of the Presiding Officer to inform their senior about the votes polled data every two hours. So it shouldn’t take more than a few days to upload the votes polled data.

The Quint spoke to former chief election commissioner OP Rawat about the discrepancies. He said:

“Prima facie, it appears to be a serious issue. I am not aware of any such occurrence (where votes polled didn’t match with votes counted) in the past, that is, during my tenure as chief election commissioner.”