Mallikarjun Kharge's turnout delay charge aimed at creating confusion: ECI

New Delhi: The Election Commission today took sou moto cognizance of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's May 8 communication to INDIA bloc partners (posted on X) expressing doubts about voter turnout publication delays, categorically refuting his allegations and terming his statements as 'highly undesirable' and 'designed to create confusion, misdirection and impediments in conduct of free and fair elections'.

In a 17-page communication to Kharge, the EC has said that while it respects the 'right to free speech', such utterances from the president of a national party can have a 'negative impact' on voter participation and demoralise election staff at this 'critical juncture'.

It has said that his statements raising doubts about possible 'doctoring of results' due to alleged delay in voter turnout publication could create an 'anarchic situation, besides doubts and disharmony'.


Pointing to Kharge's letter raising doubts about the EVMs as well, the ECI has said that such a 'trend of irresponsible statements attacking or attempting to degrade the credibility of elections' by a national party is 'disconcerting'.

"Through innuendos and insinuations, the contents of the post, tend to create disharmony in respect of the delicate space of election management, can plant doubts in the mind of the voters and parties and potentially creates an anarchic situation..", it has observed in its letter to Kharge.

The poll panel has added that it has also noted an emerging 'design/pattern' in creating 'false narratives during election period and the same continues to be reflected in Kharge's letter to INDIA bloc members.

It cites Congress leader Randeep Surjewala's 2023 allegations of ECI deploying those EVMs in Karnataka assembly elections which were used in South Africa and how the poll panel had written to the Congress president to take 'remedial action' on such statements.