New Delhi: India’s Election Commission reassured the public on Monday, citing a historic turnout of 642 million voters in the recently concluded general election on June 1, and dismissing opposition apprehensions regarding the counting process.
The seven-phase election, hailed as the world’s largest, commenced on April 19 amid scorching summer temperatures, with some regions experiencing highs nearing 50 degrees Celsius (122°F).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vying for a third consecutive term, and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance, are anticipated to secure a significant victory, as indicated by TV exit polls ahead of Tuesday’s vote tally.
“We have created a world record of 642 million proud Indian voters. This is a historic moment,” remarked Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar during a press briefing.
Although the turnout for 2024 surpassed the 612 million voters in 2019, it witnessed a slight decline compared to the 67.4% turnout five years ago, potentially attributed to the absence of a predominant issue to galvanize voters during the initial phases amidst the sweltering heat, analysts suggested.
Kumar affirmed the robustness of the vote-counting process, assuring transparency and stringent action against any malpractices.
Also Read | UNRWA Reports Forced Displacement of Over 1 Million from Rafah
Amidst opposition concerns, the INDIA alliance, spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi’s Congress party, advocated for adherence to established norms during the counting process. The alliance urged the Election Commission to prioritize the counting of postal votes, a plea Kumar addressed by confirming that most postal votes would be tallied before the completion of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) vote counting.
The commission also agreed to ensure the secure transportation and verification of voting machines, as requested by the opposition alliance.
Also Read | Tesla Director Gebbia Discusses Possible House Sale to Musk
While opposition parties have previously criticized the commission on campaign violations, they have not contested the counting process or election results. Allegations of EVM manipulation have been rebuffed by the Election Commission and upheld by courts.
Looking ahead, Kumar proposed scheduling future elections at least a month earlier to mitigate extreme weather conditions, highlighting a valuable lesson for future electoral planning.
