New Delhi, May 26: The Independent Panel for Monitoring Indian Elections has reported over 200 complaints from Uttar Pradesh, including voter suppression, campaign rule violations, and Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions, during the fifth phase of the 2024 general elections. The panel’s weekly bulletin also highlighted incidents of violence in Bengal and other irregularities.
One notable incident involved a minor in Farrukhabad, son of a Panchayat head, casting multiple votes for the BJP and posting the act on social media. The state chief electoral officer has recommended a repoll at the affected polling station.
The panel expressed concern over the use of religious rhetoric and hate speech by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, particularly Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Adityanath allegedly made false claims about the opposition’s plans to impose an inheritance tax and redistribute property to Muslims and other minority groups, deploying anti-Muslim tropes in his speeches.
The panel criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its failure to provide voter turnout data for completed phases and for its perceived leniency towards the ruling BJP. Despite ample evidence of MCC violations by BJP leaders, the ECI issued fewer notices to them compared to opposition parties.
Civil society organizations have mobilized to form a citizen’s vigilance commission, expressing concerns over the ECI’s transparency and potential vote manipulation. These organizations aim to ensure fair election practices and protect the integrity of the electoral process as the general elections progress towards conclusion.
