Poll panel did not upload Form 17C data: AAP chief

A day before the counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday alleged that the Election Commission did not upload Form 17C, which includes data of votes polled per booth in each constituency.

He said since the EC was not uploading the data, the party has launched a website wherein it has uploaded Form 17C data from all Assembly segments.

In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote: “The EC has refused to upload form 17C and number of votes polled per booth in each Assembly despite several requests. The Aam Aadmi Party has made a website - transparentelections.in where we have uploaded all form 17C of every Assembly. This form has the details of votes polled in each booth.”

“Throughout the day, we will present the data of every Assembly and every booth in a tabulated format as well so that every voter can access this information. This is something that the Election Commission should have done in the interest of transparency, but it is unfortunate that they are refusing to do it,” he said.

In reply to the former Chief Minister’s post, the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, wrote that the recorded Form 17C had been furnished to polling agents in each station.

“As per Rule 49S of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, all presiding officers had furnished the account of votes recorded in Form 17C to every polling agent present at the polling station on the day of the poll, February 5. The rule has been complied in letter and in spirit at every polling station in the Delhi Assembly elections,” it wrote.

Meanwhile, a team of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) began a probe into the AAP chief’s allegations that the BJP attempted to poach its candidates by offering them Rs 15 crore each.

According to officials, the ACB initiated a probe after Delhi BJP leader Vishnu Mittal filed a complaint with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The L-G directed the ACB to investigate the matter, following which a team reached Kejriwal’s official residence at 5, Ferozeshah Road.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who first made the bribery allegations, visited the ACB office, claiming to have evidence, including phone numbers from which alleged offers were made to AAP candidates. He questioned why the agency was targeting the AAP instead of taking action against those making the alleged offers.