Delhi polls: Observers scrutinising data to ensure its accuracy

New Delhi, Feb. 9 (PTI): Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh on Sunday said there was no unusual delay in announcing the final voter turnout figure as the returning officers were busy with the scrutiny of data throughout the night to ensure its accuracy.

Addressing a press conference, Singh tried to ally all the fears as expressed by a section of political parties over delay in releasing the final voting figures for the Delhi assembly elections held on Saturday, saying “they did not want to speculate and wanted to give exact figures”.

“So, returning officers worked throughout the night to check data to ensure it is accurate,” Singh said while asserting that the delay was not unusual rather it was done in a good time.

He said there were more than 13,700 polling stations in the national capital and they had to add data from each station and ensure that every vote is accounted for.

It is not a matter of late or early, as soon as the voting per cent was finalised, it was shared with the public, he said.

Singh’s remarks came after Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal questioned the “delay” by the Election Commissioner in giving the final voter turnout figure for the assembly polls, and said it was suspicious and asked if the poll panel was waiting for BJP office’s nod.