Congress Questions New Rule on Counting Agents; Election Commission Responds

Congress leader Ajay Maken raised concerns about the exclusion of candidates' counting agents at the assistant returning officer (ARO) tables during the vote counting process, marking it as an unprecedented occurrence in his nine contests across Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. Maken emphasized the gravity of the situation, equating it to a potential threat larger than alleged Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering. Taking to a social media platform, Maken called upon the Election Commission to address the issue promptly, urging swift rectification.

Maken's remarks emerged following the conclusion of the final phase of Lok Sabha elections, concluding a rigorous seven-phased electoral process. The Election Commission reported an approximate voter turnout of 62.36 percent in the seventh phase, spanning seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Responding to Maken's statement, Delhi's chief electoral officer clarified that candidates' counting agents were indeed permitted at the tables of returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs).

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The stage is set for the counting of votes on June 4, following polling across 543 constituencies on April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25, and June 1. Despite numerous exit polls favoring a significant victory for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Congress leader Jairam Ramesh dismissed their credibility. Ramesh accused the outgoing Prime Minister of orchestrating these exit polls to project a favorable outcome, asserting that the India Janbandhan alliance would secure a minimum of 295 seats, ensuring a clear and decisive majority.

Ramesh speculated that the outgoing Prime Minister's apparent confidence was merely a facade, suggesting that the actual election results would diverge significantly from the projected outcomes.

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