Why is Kerala's Election Data Delayed? Officials Respond to Growing Concerns

Kerala Election Data Release Under Scrutiny

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U. Khelkar addressed concerns regarding the delay in releasing the final polling results for Kerala, stating that the timeline is normal and that there is no intention to withhold information.

He explained that the final figures will be made available once the returning officers finish consolidating the data, noting that booth-level information has already been provided to representatives of political parties.

Despite this clarification, both the ruling party and the opposition continue to express unease over the lag in comprehensive polling data being released days after the voting concluded.

General Education and Labour Minister V. Sivankutty described the delay as unusual, highlighting that the Election Commission has yet to disclose the final vote tally, which includes electronic voting machine results, service votes, postal ballots, and home voting.

In today's technologically advanced age, he emphasized that such delays in data compilation and release raise significant concerns about the transparency of the electoral process.

Sivankutty called on the Commission to promptly release the consolidated figures to alleviate the rising public anxiety.

Similarly, V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, reached out to the Chief Election Commissioner, urging for immediate access to constituency-wise polling percentages and postal voting details.

In his correspondence, Satheesan stressed the importance of timely and accurate voting data publication to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

He also requested that polling figures and postal ballot information be uploaded to the Election Commission's official website without delay, cautioning that the lack of clear information is fostering speculation within political circles.

He warned that unless the situation is addressed quickly, the delay could lead to unnecessary doubts.

As the counting day approaches, attention is now on whether the Commission will hasten the release of the final figures to restore confidence among all political stakeholders.