ICSSR to issue show-cause notice after allegations of data manipulation aimed at discrediting the Election Commission
CSDS Under Fire for Voter Data ‘Manipulation’
The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), a prominent research institute, is facing disciplinary action from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) over allegations of data manipulation during the recent Maharashtra elections.
The ICSSR, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, said the institute attempted to “create a narrative with the intention of undermining the sanctity of the Election Commission of India (ECI).”
What Sparked the Controversy?
- Sanjay Kumar, a senior psephologist and faculty member at CSDS, claimed major voter additions and deletions in four Maharashtra constituencies.
- His data suggested:
- A 47% increase in voters in Nashik West
- A 43% rise in Hingna
- A 38% drop in Ramtek
- A 36% fall in Devlali
- The claims fueled the Congress party’s accusations of voter fraud, with top leaders citing the data to attack the ruling BJP and the ECI.
Apology and Retraction by Sanjay Kumar
Following backlash, Sanjay Kumar deleted his tweets and issued a public apology:
“Error occurred while comparing data of 2024 LS and 2024 AS. The data in the row was misread by our data team. I had no intention of dispersing any form of misinformation,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
ICSSR’s Response and Planned Action
The ICSSR issued a strong statement on X, stating:
- It takes serious cognizance of the incident.
- The institute violated Grant-in-Aid rules.
- A show-cause notice will be issued to CSDS.
The post also emphasized the ECI’s constitutional role in conducting free and fair elections, highlighting that any attempt to misrepresent electoral data undermines democratic integrity.
Political Fallout: BJP vs Congress
- BJP’s Amit Malviya slammed the Congress and accused the party of using false data to attack the ECI.
- He called it “shameful” and demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi, who had shared the disputed findings.
Meanwhile, the Congress defended its position:
- Party spokesperson Sujata Paul said CSDS was just one of many sources.
- “We corroborated the data with our ground-level inputs and other opposition allies,” she added.
- Regarding Sanjay Kumar’s apology, she remarked, “That is his problem, not ours.”
Who Is Sanjay Kumar?
- Position: Professor and Co-Director at Lokniti, CSDS
- Reputation: Known for election research and data analysis
- Current Issue: Apologized after admitting to an error in comparative data analysis between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections
The ICSSR’s move against CSDS has ignited a fresh debate over data responsibility in Indian elections. While the controversy continues to fuel political sparring between the BJP and Congress, the incident also raises crucial questions about the role of research institutions in maintaining objectivity during the electoral process.
