The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reacted sharply against the statement of Congress’ senior leader Jairam Ramesh wherein he had alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had called up 150 district magistrates to influence them after voting for the Lok Sabha election was completed.
“…Can someone influence them (district magistrates/returning officers) all? Tell us who did this. We will punish the person who did it…It is not right that you spread a rumour and doubt everyone,” Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, , a day before the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.
It’s not right to spread rumour and doubt, he added.
On Saturday, Jairam Ramesh had alleged that “outgoing Home Minister has been calling up DMs/Collectors”.
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Terming it “BJP desperation”, the Congress leader said officials should not get under the pressure by such intimidation.
“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. Officers should not get under any pressure and must uphold the Constitution. They are under watch,” Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying.
According to most of the exit poll results, the BJP-led NDA is returning to power on June 4, and Narendra Modi would become the only prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three successive terms in Lok Sabha election.
Talking to a news agency on Sunday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had reiterated that the exit polls were “completely bogus” and “orchestrated and masterminded by the man whose exit is inevitable and guaranteed on June 4”.
“These are all part of the psychological games being played by the outgoing prime minister (Narendra Modi) and the outgoing home minister (Amit Shah). The outgoing home minister called up 150 District Magistrates and collectors yesterday. The results that the exit polls have come up with bear no relation to reality,” he had claimed.