The Election Commission on Tuesday flagged the said that there were no arbitrary additions or deletions of voters in Maharashtra, where assembly polls were held recently. The comment by the poll body comes amid concerns flagged by the Congress.

The poll authority said that it would not be correct to compare 5 PM voter turnout data with final polling data. It also explained how an increase in voter turnout from 5 PM to 11:45 PM was normal, being part of the process of aggregation of voter turnout and how there can be bona fide but inconsequential differences in votes polled and votes counted.

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The poll body asserted that it is impossible to change the actual voter turnout, as statutory Form 17C, giving details of voter turnout, is available with authorised agents of candidates at the time of close of poll at the polling station itself.

The election commission further stated that the rule-based process was followed with transparency in the Maharashtra roll preparation and there were no irregular patterns in the voter deletions in the state. It said to the Congress that the due process was followed, including the participation of Congress representatives in the preparation of electoral rolls.

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Earlier, Congress dissatisfied with its defeat in Maharashtra, submitted an "urgent memorandum" to the ECI highlighting "serious inconsistencies" in polling and counting data. In a 12-page document, the party cited concerns raised by former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi and flagged two key issues: the "arbitrary deletion and addition of over 10,000 voters per constituency" and an "unexplained surge in voting percentages."

The party had alleged that these irregularities aimed to suppress votes sympathetic to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the opposition alliance it belongs to. The party urged the ECI to launch a comprehensive investigation into these issues, stating the need for electoral integrity in the election process.

(With input from agencies)