Delegations from both the BJP and the Opposition INDIA bloc met with the Election Commission (EC) on June 2 to discuss the upcoming Lok Sabha election counting process and express their respective concerns. The BJP delegation, led by Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal, submitted a petition urging the EC to ensure the safety of the counting process and the strict adherence to established guidelines. They also raised concerns about alleged attempts by the Opposition and certain civil society organizations to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
In their petition, the BJP highlighted the Supreme Court’s dismissal of challenges against the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and accused the Opposition of using civil society organizations as a front to discredit the electoral process. They cited a ‘Delhi Resolution’ adopted on May 28, which they claimed outlined plans to protest and undermine the election results.
The INDIA bloc delegation, which included senior leaders such as Sitaram Yechury, D. Raja, and Salman Khurshid, submitted a memorandum to the EC. They expressed concerns about the lack of clarity in the counting process for officials requisitioned from local authorities and the need for stricter adherence to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. They emphasized the importance of safe movement of control units through CCTV-monitored corridors, verification of date and time displays on control units, and the confirmation of voting process start and end times.
The INDIA bloc also called for postal ballots to be counted at the beginning of the process, as per the rules, and sought clear instructions from the EC in this regard. Both delegations urged the EC to take cognisance of their concerns and take appropriate action to ensure a fair and transparent counting process.
