The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The Election Commission (EC) has requested Congress leader Jairam Ramesh to provide factual details regarding his allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah contacted 150 district magistrates (DMs) and collectors ahead of the June 4 vote counting for the Lok Sabha polls. The EC’s request follows Ramesh’s post on social media platform X on June 1, where he accused Shah of “blatant and brazen intimidation.”
In a letter to Ramesh, the EC asked him to share the details by 7 pm on Sunday. The letter highlighted the importance of maintaining public trust in the election process, noting that such claims could cast doubt on the integrity of the counting procedure. The EC emphasized that the counting of votes is a sacred duty assigned to every returning officer, and it is crucial to address any statements that could undermine this process.
Ramesh’s social media post alleged that the outgoing Home Minister had been contacting DMs and collectors, stating, “So far, he has spoken to 150 of them. This is blatant and brazen intimidation, showing how desperate the BJP is….” The EC pointed out that all officers are under its direct authority during the Model Code of Conduct, and no DM has reported any undue influence as claimed by Ramesh.
The EC urged Ramesh, as a senior leader of a national party, to substantiate his public statement with factual information. It requested details of the 150 DMs allegedly contacted by Shah and the basis of this information to enable appropriate action.