The sources noted that voting progressed in the presence of polling agents formally appointed by candidates or political parties in every polling booth.The Congress’ nominated candidates or their authorised agents had not raised “any substantiated allegations” regarding any kind of abnormal voting at the time of scrutiny before returning officers and election observers the next day.On the issue of alleged fudging of electoral data, the sources said voter lists in India, including Maharashtra, were prepared according to the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.According to the law, either just before the elections or once every year, special summary revision of electoral rolls is conducted and its final copy handed over to all national or state political parties.After the finalisation of electoral rolls for the Maharashtra polls, as against 9,77,90,752 (9.72 crore) electors, only 89 appeals were filed before the first appellate authority — the district magistrate concerned — and only one before the second appellate authority — the state chief electoral officer.”Therefore, it is amply clear that there was no grievance of the Congress or any other political party before the conduct of the Maharashtra assembly election in 2024,” the functionary said.During the voter list revision, for over one lakh polling booths, along with 97,325 booth-level officers appointed by electoral registration officers, 1,03,727 (1.03 lakh) booth-level agents were also appointed by all political parties.These included 27,099 booth-level agents appointed by Congress.”Therefore, these unsubstantiated allegations raised against the electoral rolls of Maharashtra are an affront to the rule of the law,” the functionary asserted.
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