17 lakh votes cast at midnight; serious irregularities in Andhra polls
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New Delhi: Fresh allegations questioning the integrity of the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections have surfaced, with economist Parakala Prabhakar claiming large-scale irregularities in voting patterns, particularly during late-night hours after polling was officially expected to close.
Addressing a press conference, Prabhakar pointed to what he described as highly unusual voting trends. He claimed that around 17 lakh votes were cast after midnight, part of a broader surge in which nearly 52 lakh votes were recorded between 8 pm and 2 am. Voting reportedly continued until 2 am in approximately 3,500 booths, with a significant percentage of total votes being registered late into the night. He further questioned the feasibility of such rapid voting, noting that the rate suggested a vote being recorded roughly every 20 seconds, despite the time required to reset electronic voting machines.
These claims come in the backdrop of a sweeping electoral victory for N Chandrababu Naidu, whose TDP-led NDA alliance secured 164 out of 175 seats. The Telugu Desam Party alone won 135 seats, while its allies, including the BJP and Jana Sena, also posted strong performances. The scale of the victory had already raised eyebrows among political observers.
Discrepancies in official turnout figures have further fueled suspicion. Initial polling data released after voting closed at 5 pm indicated a turnout of just over 68 per cent. However, this figure saw a sharp increase through the night, rising significantly by late evening and eventually reaching over 81 per cent in the final tally released days later. Critics argue that such a steep jump, particularly after polling hours, demands closer scrutiny.
Legal and political voices have echoed these concerns. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan questioned the absence of publicly accessible booth-level voting data, including statutory forms that record votes polled. He highlighted that the lack of machine-readable voter data hampers independent verification. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier raised similar concerns about transparency, pointing to missing real-time data on voters in queues and booth-level reporting.
Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi has called for a comprehensive audit of election records, including key statutory documents. He stressed the need for same-day disclosure of polling percentages and real-time access to booth-level data to ensure transparency.
While Election Commission sources have dismissed the timing of these allegations as inappropriate, the claims have intensified demands for accountability, raising serious questions about the credibility of the electoral process.
