Congress Claims Candidates’ Counting Agents Barred From Assistant Returning Officers' Tables. EC Responds

Following the Congress leader's remark, Delhi's chief electoral officer clarified that Counting Agents of Candidates are allowed at the tables of Returning Officers.

Congress leader Ajay Maken claimed that the counting agents of candidates were being restricted at the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) tables during the vote counting process. ( Image Source :PTI )

Congress leader Ajay Maken on Saturday claimed that the counting agents of candidates were being restricted at the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) tables during the vote counting process. Following this, the Election Commission issued a clarification saying, that "the Counting Agents of candidates are allowed at the tables of RO/AROs."

Alleging that it is even bigger than EVM rigging, Ajay Maken stated in a post on X: "Candidate's Counting Agents' at the ARO table are NOT being allowed for the first time!!! I have contested 9 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in the past- And this is happening for the first time. If true, this is bigger than the alleged EVM rigging! I am flagging this issue for all candidates! I hope ECI rectifies it soon."

‘Candidate’s Counting Agents’ at the ARO table are NOT being allowed for the first time!!!

I have contested 9 Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha elections in the past- And this is happening for the first time.

If true, this is bigger than the alleged EVM rigging!

I am flagging this…

— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) June 1, 2024

Maken's remarks came after after the curtains were drawn on the Lok Sabha elections 2024, as voting in the final phase of Lok Sabha elections ended on Saturday. The Election Commission stated that the seventh phase of votin across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh witnessed an approximate voter turnout of 62.36 per cent.

Responding to the Congress leader's remark, Delhi's chief electoral officer tweeted: "It is clarified that Counting Agents of candidates are allowed at the tables of RO/AROs."

It is clarified that Counting Agents of Candidates are allowed at the tables of RO/AROs.

— CEO, Delhi Office (@CeodelhiOffice) June 2, 2024

Voting across 543 constituencies were held across seven phases on April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25 and June 1. The results will be announced on June 4 after the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections.   

Ahead of the result's announcement, several exit polls were held on June 1, predicting a massive win for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

ABP's CVoter Survey has predicted a thumping victory for the NDA who is projected to bag 353-383 seats, while the I.N.D.I.A bloc is projected to win 152-182 seats.

'Exit Polls Are Orchestrated': Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh

After the exit polls were announced, several leaders "rejected" them, calling them an "orchestrated plan to weigh BJP's 400-paar".

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh too, dismissed the exit polls and posted on X,"The man whose exit is certain on June 4th has had these exit polls orchestrated. The INDIA Janbandhan will definitely get a minimum of 295 seats, which is a clear and decisive majority." 

“The outgoing Prime Minister can remain smug for three days in the meanwhile. These are all psychological games he is masterminding but the ACTUAL results will be very different,” Ramesh added.

The Narendra Modi-led BJP is looking at a third consecutive term in power, while the I.N.D.I.A bloc is steadfast at stopping the juggernaut by wresting the power from the saffron party's clinches.