Research Council ICSSR Set to Deliver Notification to CSDS Regarding Suspected Altered Data in Maharashtra Election Results
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has taken a serious step by issuing a show cause notice to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) over allegations of manipulating election data related to the 2024 Maharashtra polls.
The controversy started when Sanjay Kumar, a senior CSDS researcher, posted misleading data on voter turnout discrepancies between the 2024 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in two Maharashtra constituencies, Ramtek and Devlali. The post, which was later deleted, sparked a political storm, with the BJP accusing the Congress of using the erroneous data as propaganda against the Election Commission (ECI).
However, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera dismissed the BJP's charges, stating it was an attempt to clutch at straws. The controversy widened as the Bihar Chief Electoral Officer flagged that Kumar's erroneous data was amplified by opposition leaders.
Kumar later issued an apology for the tweets, admitting to a "misreading of data" by his team. The apology was issued on the same social media platform where the original post was made.
The ICSSR, which funds CSDS, issued a statement taking serious cognizance of the data manipulation by CSDS. The council accused CSDS of 'data fudging' and biased interpretation of the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which it said undermined the constitutional sanctity of the ECI.
The show cause notice demands an explanation within seven days over administrative and financial irregularities, including flawed data release, violation of funding rules, and broader governance lapses like appointment irregularities and unaudited accounts.
The controversy gained prominence due to its link with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s vote theft campaign, intensifying scrutiny of how election data is presented and interpreted publicly. The implications for the Election Commission are significant, as the attempted narrative suggested that the ECI’s election integrity was compromised, raising concerns over public trust.
Concurrently, FIRs were filed against Sanjay Kumar by district electoral officers for allegedly misleading voters with incorrect data on the two constituencies, adding a legal dimension to the controversy.
The ICSSR’s strong defense of the ECI’s constitutional role highlights the sensitivity and importance of accurate, unbiased election research in maintaining faith in India’s democratic processes. The show cause notice and possible funding withdrawal underscore institutional efforts to maintain research integrity and protect constitutional bodies such as the ECI from politically motivated misinformation.
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