The Election Commission on Monday denied extra time to Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh to prove his claim that Union Home Minister Amit Shah called 150 District Magistrates, in an attempt to intimidate and influence the officials ahead of the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha Election.
Senior Congress leader, on Saturday, accused Amit Shah of pulling strings with the District Magistrates, Collectors and Returning Officers to alter the vote counting press.
Ramesh had, in a post on X on Saturday, claimed that “the outgoing home minister has been calling up DMs/collectors and had spoken to 150 DMs thus far”. “This is blatant and brazen intimidation, showing how desperate the BJP is. Let it be very clear: the will of the people shall prevail, and on June 4, Modi, Shah, and BJP will exit, and the INDIA Janbandhan will be victorious. Officers should not get under any pressure and must uphold the Constitution. They are under watch,” he had said.
Responding to the allegation, the Election Commission issued a letter to Ramesh and sought the proof to support his claim by a deadline of 7 pm on Monday.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar rejected the allegations and said “it was not right to spread rumours” and “doubt everyone,”
addressing a press conference.
He asked the Opposition to share evidence of allegations so the panel could take action against them.
The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections, held in seven phases, is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
