'No DM Reported Any Undue Influence': EC Seeks Jairam Ramesh's Response On 'Amit Shah Called 150 Officials' Remark

The EC has referred to Jairam Ramesh's post on X on June 1, where the Congress general secretary had alleged that Amit Shah has been calling up DMs and Collectors. 

The EC sought a factual information from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

The Election Commission of India sought a factual information and details from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday over his allegations that Union Home Minister Amit Shah called up 150 district magistrates and collectors ahead of counting of Lok Sabha results on June 4.

In a letter to the Congress leader, the poll body asked him to share details regarding his claim by 7 pm on Sunday.

The EC has referred to Jairam Ramesh's post on X on June 1, where the Congress general secretary had alleged that the outgoing Home Minister has been calling up DMs and Collectors. 

"The outgoing Home Minister has been calling up DMs/Collectors. So far he has spoken to 150 of them. 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 4th, Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, and the BJP will exit, and the INDIA Janbandhan will be victorious," the Congress leader said.

The outgoing Home Minister has been calling up DMs/Collectors. So far he has spoken to 150 of them. 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 4th, Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, and the…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 1, 2024

"Officers should not get under any pressure and must uphold the Constitution. They are under watch," he added.

The Election Commission, in its response, said that no DM or other officials reported any "undue pressure" as alleged by Ramesh.

"You being a responsible experienced and very senior leader of a nation party, you must have made such public statement just before the day of counting based on facts, information which you believed to be true. It is requested that details of 150 DMs to whom such calls have been allegedly made by the Home Minister along with the factual matrix basis of your information are shared by 7 pm today so that appropriate action can be taken," the EC said in its letter.

"The process of counting votes is a sacred duty cast upon every returning officer and such public statements tend to put an element of doubt and thus, deserves to be addressed in larger public interest," the EC letter said.

"It has also told the Congress leader that when the Model Code of Conduct is in force, all officers are under the deemed deputation of the commission and they report directly to the poll watchdog for any directions. However, no DM has reported any such undue influence as alleged by you..." the EC's letter to Ramesh stated.