Ahead Of Delhi Vote Counting, Kejriwal Alleges ECI Withholding Booth-Wise Voting Data; CEO Dismisses Charge

On Delhi Assembly election results eve, AAP alleges that the EC refused to upload details of votes polled per booth. However, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi refuted Kejriwal's claims

File Photo of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal

Source : PTI

On the eve of the counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday alleged that the Election Commission (EC) had refused to upload Form 17C, which contains details of votes polled per booth in each Assembly segment, despite multiple requests from the party.

In response, the AAP has launched a website where it has uploaded Form 17C data for all the Assembly seats, Kejriwal stated.

Taking to X, Kejriwal claimed, "EC has refused to upload Form 17C and the number of votes polled per booth in each Assembly despite several requests. Aam Aadmi Party has made a website, where we have uploaded all the Form 17C of every Assembly." He said, "This form contains all details of votes polled at each booth. Throughout the day, we will present data for every Assembly and every booth in a tabulated format so that every voter can access this information."

EC has refused to upload form 17C and number of votes polled per booth in each assembly despite several requests. Aam Aadmi Party has made a website - https://t.co/vm6K3f3JcG where we have uploaded all the form 17C of every assembly. This form has all the details of votes polled…

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 7, 2025

Criticising the poll body, Kejriwal asserted that ensuring transparency should have been its responsibility. "This is something the Election Commission should have done in the interest of transparency, but it is unfortunate that it is refusing to do so," the AAP leader remarked.

Delhi Election 2025: Delhi CEO Refutes Kejriwal's Claims

However, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi refuted Kejriwal's claims, asserting that the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 had been "complied in letter and spirit" at every polling station.

The Delhi CEO's office issued a statement in response to Kejriwal's allegations, stating, "As per Rule 49S of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, all the Presiding Officers had furnished the account of votes recorded in Form 17C to every Polling Agent present at the polling station on the day of poll, February 5, 2025", news agency ANI reported

The poll body further cited Rule 49S, which mandates that the presiding officer, at the close of polling, must prepare an account of votes recorded in Form 17C and enclose it in a separate cover marked 'Account of votes recorded.' Additionally, the rule states that the presiding officer must furnish a true copy of the entries made in Form 17C to every polling agent present at the polling station after obtaining a receipt and attesting it.