Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar addressed allegations made by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had called up district magistrates after voting for the Lok Sabha elections was completed. CEC Kumar firmly rejected these allegations, emphasizing the importance of not spreading rumors and creating doubt. He assured that any specific accusations would be thoroughly investigated and necessary actions would be taken. Here are the key points from the press conference and the situation:
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- Rejection of Allegations: CEC Rajiv Kumar dismissed Jairam Ramesh’s allegations against Amit Shah, calling them baseless and harmful rumors.
- Clarification on Influence: Kumar questioned the feasibility of influencing 500-600 district magistrates and returning officers, challenging Ramesh to provide specific details.
- Promise of Action: The CEC assured that any credible evidence provided would lead to punishment for those responsible.
- Response to Multi-party Demands: Kumar stated that all issues raised by multi-party delegations regarding the counting process had been addressed, including CCTV monitoring of control units.
- Election Commission’s Communication: The CEC defended the Commission’s communication strategy, noting that over 100 press notes had been issued during the polling period.
- Request for Details from Ramesh: The Election Commission sought detailed information from Jairam Ramesh regarding his allegations to facilitate further action.
- Importance of Counting Process: The CEC emphasized that the vote counting process is a sacred duty, and unsubstantiated claims undermine public trust.
- No Reports of Influence: According to the Election Commission, no district magistrates reported any undue influence or pressure.
- Public Statement by Ramesh: Jairam Ramesh accused Amit Shah of intimidating officials, alleging that Shah had called 150 district magistrates before the vote counting.
- Polling and Counting Timeline: Lok Sabha elections were conducted in seven phases starting from April 19, with the vote counting scheduled for June 4.
