CPI seeks probe into ‘poll discrepancies’

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CPI national secretary K. Ramakrishna and State secretary Gujjula Eswaraiah addressing the media in Vijayawada on Thursday. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has demanded a comprehensive probe by the Union government into alleged discrepancies between votes polled and counted in the Lok Sabha elections, as highlighted by investigative journalism organisation, The Reporters' Collective.

Addressing the media at Dasari Bhavan here on Thursday, CPI national secretary K. Ramakrishna and State secretary Gujjula Eswaraiah alleged that the findings raised serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process.

Mr. Ramakrishna said the organisation had analysed data from around 530 Lok Sabha constituencies and reported discrepancies in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. He demanded that the Election Commission of India's internal reports be made public and subjected to scrutiny.

Mr. Ramakrishna demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of favouring the BJP and the RSS. He questioned the addition of 50 to 60 million voters ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, despite the BJP's setback in the preceding parliamentary elections.

He said the CPI national executive would meet in New Delhi on November 16 and 17 to discuss organising a nationwide movement along with INDIA bloc partners, mass organisations and civil rights groups.

Mr. Eswaraiah said victories secured unanimously in several rural and urban local bodies could not be celebrated if they were allegedly achieved through administrative pressure. Free elections and genuine voter participation were essential for democratic legitimacy, he said.

He announced a State-wide agitation against the proposed privatisation, warning that the decision would invite public opposition.

The CPI leaders criticised the Centre and the State government for “failing to provide adequate relief to farmers and people affected by drought and successive cyclones”. They said several villages continued to face power outages even 14 to 15 days after the cyclones made landfall.

They expressed concern over rising prices of rice, pulses, tomatoes, onions, garlic and ginger, alleging that the governments had failed to intervene effectively in the market. CPI State Secretariat member Donepudi Shankar was also present.

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