The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he violated the Model Code of Conduct and electoral laws during a speech in Maharashtra. The BJP accuses Gandhi of spreading misinformation and inciting division among citizens for political gain, demanding action against him and the Congress party.
In a significant move ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the transfer of DGP Rashmi Shukla, following complaints of bias from opposition parties. This decision comes after concerns were raised about Shukla’s alleged favoritism towards the BJP, potentially affecting the fairness of the elections. Opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut and Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, had accused Shukla of bias and political interference in the state police force, citing incidents of political violence targeting opposition leaders.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has firmly dismissed the Congress party’s claims of irregularities in the recent Haryana elections, labeling them as baseless and lacking any factual basis. The ECI, in a stern letter to the Congress, urged the party to cease making such unsubstantiated allegations, particularly during sensitive periods like elections, as they can potentially incite public unrest and chaos.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has shifted the voting date for the Haryana Assembly Election from October 1st to October 5th, citing the need to accommodate the Bishnoi community’s participation in the Asoj Amavasya festival. The ECI also adjusted the vote counting date for both Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana to October 8th. The decision was made after receiving representations from political parties and the Bishnoi community highlighting concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement due to a mass exodus to Rajasthan for the festival.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, presented President Droupadi Murmu with the names of newly elected Lok Sabha members at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won the majority in the elections, while Narendra Modi is set to take oath as the head of the coalition government for a third term. The meeting is part of the process for the formation of the 18th Lok Sabha, and the newly elected members are expected to meet on June 7 to formally elect Mr. Modi as their leader.
After a month-long electoral process, India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections have reached their final stage with the crucial vote counting underway across the country. The mammoth exercise, involving 64 crore voters and 543 constituencies, began at 8 AM today and is being overseen by thousands of officials. Each round of counting encompasses 14 EVMs, with results verified against VVPATs from five random EVMs. Postal ballots, facilitating absentee voting, are also being considered. The Election Commission has ensured a decentralized and efficient counting process to ensure timely and accurate results.
As India eagerly awaits the results of the seven-phase Lok Sabha Elections 2024, counting of votes commences today. In accordance with election regulations, a nationwide ban on the sale of liquor is in effect today, June 3rd, to prevent any influence on the vote-counting process. Liquor sales will remain prohibited from 12 a.m. on June 3rd to 12 a.m. on June 4th, affecting all shops, bars, hotels, restaurants, and taverns. However, restaurants and hotels are permitted to serve food and non-alcoholic beverages. The vote-counting process will commence at 8 a.m., commencing with postal ballots followed by the counting of votes cast through electronic voting machines (EVMs). Exit polls have projected a strong performance for the ruling BJP-led NDA, indicating a potential improvement over their 2019 tally of 352 seats.
The Election Commission (EC) has expressed confidence in its ‘robust’ counting mechanism for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar addressed allegations by Opposition parties of Returning Officers and District Magistrates being influenced to vitiate the poll process. Kumar denied these claims, inviting the Opposition to provide evidence and accusing them of creating a ‘fake narrative.’ The counting process will involve over 70 lakh personnel, with Central forces deployed in certain states to prevent post-poll violence. Postal ballots will be counted first, as per existing rules.
Form 17C, mandated by the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, plays a crucial role in verifying election details in India. This form captures crucial information from each polling booth, including the number of votes cast and the number of voters who participated. Candidates use this data to cross-check the results during counting, ensuring transparency and accuracy in the electoral process.
The Madras High Court has issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition demanding a nationwide campaign to educate voters about the prohibition of seeking votes based on religion, caste, or language during elections. The petitioner cited the Constitution’s secular nature and Supreme Court rulings declaring such practices as corrupt electoral practices.
