Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Khelkar of Kerala dismissed claims of undue delay in releasing the state’s final polling figures. He emphasized that the data is not intentionally being withheld and will be made public once returning officers finish the consolidation process. Despite this clarification, worries persist among the ruling front and the opposition regarding the delayed data release post-election.
General Education and Labour Minister V. Sivankutty expressed concern over the unusual delay in publishing the final vote count, including various types of votes. He highlighted that in today’s technological era, such delays in data compilation and disclosure raise doubts about the transparency of the democratic process. Sivankutty urged the Election Commission to promptly disclose the consolidated figures to address public unease.
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V.D. Satheesan also raised apprehensions, urging the Chief Election Commissioner to promptly reveal constituency-wise polling percentages and postal voting details. Satheesan stressed the importance of timely and accurate voting data publication to maintain the credibility of the electoral system. He demanded the immediate uploading of polling figures and postal ballot data on the Election Commission’s official website to prevent speculation within political circles.
As the countdown to the counting day begins, attention now turns to whether the Election Commission will accelerate the release of final figures to reassure stakeholders across the political spectrum.
