Why Did the UP CEO Address Congress's Claims About the Kundarki Assembly Seat?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Electoral results can vary significantly in consecutive elections.
- Claims of manipulation can arise following unexpected election outcomes.
- The integrity of the electoral process must be maintained to uphold democracy.
- Religious and caste data is not recorded in electoral rolls in India.
- Legal actions can influence electoral narratives and outcomes.
New Delhi, Sep 26 (NationPress) In response to Congress's accusations of manipulation regarding the BJP's unexpected triumph in the Kundarki Assembly seat during the 2024 by-poll, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh emphasized that experiencing dramatically different outcomes in two successive elections for the same constituency is not unprecedented.
In a statement on X, the CEO chose to abstain from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the Kundarki bye-poll, yet provided instances of surprising electoral results in the same area over short intervals.
The CEO remarked, “In India, there are numerous examples where the results of two consecutive elections in the same constituency held just months apart have resulted in significantly different outcomes (such as in 114-Malegaon Central AC of Maharashtra, where the INC candidate garnered only 3.13 percent of votes in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections of November 2024, while in the same segment during the Lok Sabha elections just five months prior, the INC candidate astonishingly secured 96.7 percent of the votes).”
Addressing claims made in an article regarding the targeting of specific religious voters in Uttar Pradesh, the CEO clarified: “As far as the Electoral Roll is concerned, neither religion nor caste is ever recorded for any voter. The notion suggested by the article… that its conclusions are based on ECI-released data is incorrect, as no analysis based on religion or caste can be derived from ECI data.”
“Furthermore, it is clarified that no grievances have been reported regarding the improper deletion/addition of voters or wrongful rejection of Form-6 based on religion in the 29-Kundarki Assembly Constituency,” stated the CEO.
Earlier, Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed skepticism about the BJP's significant win in the Kundarki Assembly seat during the 2024 bye-poll, a constituency historically dominated by the Samajwadi Party, implying possible manipulation.
In a post on the social media platform X, Khera wrote: “The BJP’s success in the Kundarki assembly seat during the 2024 bye-poll has puzzled many. However, the mystery is resolved: that 1.4 lakh margin was not a miracle; it was Vote Chori.”
Khera also referenced an article that claimed Muslim voters in the constituency were targeted through deletions and suppression during an election where the BJP achieved an unprecedented victory.
The CEO declined to comment on the Kundarki Assembly seat by-poll, stating: “An Election Petition has been lodged in the Allahabad High Court by Mr. Mohammad Rizwan, the Samajwadi Party candidate in the November 2024 bye-election for the 29-Kundarki Assembly Constituency. The matter is currently sub-judice, and thus no comments will be provided regarding this bye-election.”