On Monday, June 3, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar confidently asserted that the counting mechanism for the upcoming Lok Sabha election results is robust and error-free. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Kumar dismissed concerns over the delay in releasing final voter turnout figures during the seven-phase general elections.
“We failed to understand the fake narratives of faulty voter lists and turnout data that were going on during the elections. But we have understood it now,” Kumar stated, without naming any specific critics. His comments come in response to the Congress and other opposition parties raising questions about discrepancies between real-time voter turnout data and the final figures released by the Election Commission.
Kumar explained that the counting process for postal ballots would commence before the counting of electronic voting machines (EVMs). “Section 54 A of RPA Act was introduced in 1954. At that time, there were not many people for postal ballots. At all centres, counting of postal ballots will start first. After only half an hour, EVM counting will start. It happened in 2019, it happened in all 2022 Assembly elections, it happened yesterday also in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim,” he elaborated.
#WATCH | Ahead of Lok Sabha elections counting, CEC Rajiv Kumar says, "Postal ballot counting will start first. After only half an hour, we will start EVM counting. There is no doubt about it." pic.twitter.com/oG3RHOIb4l
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2024
Challenging the opposition to provide evidence of any alleged manipulation by returning officers and district magistrates, Kumar stated, “The entire counting process is absolutely robust. We don’t think anywhere there is a robust system like it. Every part is decided. The whole process is codified. Micro observers are in place. There cannot be any mistake in this process.”
These remarks follow allegations by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had contacted 150 district magistrates just days before the vote count. The Election Commission has sought factual information from the Congress general secretary regarding these allegations.
The press conference also addressed a recent meeting between the Election Commission and leaders from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, who requested clear guidelines for the counting process on June 4. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi emphasized the importance of counting and declaring postal ballots first, as mandated by statutory rules.
ALSO READ: “CEC Rajiv Kumar Denounces Jairam Ramesh’s Baseless Claims Against Amit Shah”
Kumar highlighted that the Lok Sabha elections were conducted with minimal violence, attributing this success to two years of preparation. He also mentioned the presence of a global delegation of 75 observers from 23 countries, who praised India’s electoral process.
Most exit polls predict a clear majority for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, with some suggesting the NDA could achieve the “400 paar” target set by BJP leaders.
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