Delhi election: Arvind Kejriwal alleges lack of transparency over voting per booth; poll official responds

Arvind Kejriwal accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of not being transparent about the upload of form 17C.

Published on: Feb 7, 2025, 17:49:21 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had refused to upload form 17C and the number of votes polled per booth in each assembly despite several requests.

Former Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced the creation of a new website, transparentelections.in, where he claimed that the party has uploaded form 17C of every assembly with details of votes polled in each booth. (Hindustan Times)

Kejriwal announced the creation of a new website, transparentelections.in, where he claimed that the party has uploaded form 17C of every assembly with details of votes polled in each booth.

Also read | Arvind Kejriwal claims AAP candidates offered ₹15 crore to join BJP; minister says 'won't leave party'

“Through the day, we will present the data of every assembly and every booth in a tabulated format as well so that every voter can access this information. This is something that the election commission should have done in the interest of transparency but it is unfortunate that they are refusing to do it,” the former Delhi chief minister said in a post on X.

What is form 17C?

Form 17C is a comprehensive record of votes polled across polling booths. It includes data like the allocation of electors to each polling station, the overall count of registered voters within a specific area, the number of electors who abstained from voting, those denied voting rights, the total tally of votes tabulated via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and particulars related to ballot papers and paper seals.

The latter section of Form 17C also contains details of candidates' names and the total votes garnered by each. It helps candidates and their agents check whether the votes recorded at a given booth tally with the overall votes polled.

Also read | LG VK Saxena orders probe into AAP's poaching charge, ACB sleuths at Kejriwal's home

Official Responds to Kejriwal

Delhi's chief electoral officer denied Kejriwal's allegations and said that “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.”

“The rule has been complied in letter and spirit at every polling station in ongoing Delhi Legislative Assembly Elections 2025,” the official replied to Kejriwal on X.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.