On Monday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addressed the recurring concerns raised by the Opposition, particularly the Congress, about the integrity of the polling process. Dismissing these concerns as rumor mongering, Kumar emphasized that the entire electoral process, including vote counting, is meticulously detailed in the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s publicly available manuals.
Kumar highlighted the robustness and codification of the election process, noting that it operates under the supervision of 7-8 million people, ensuring a foolproof system. “Counting and the entire election process have a very robust system. We don’t think such a robust system is possible in any other place. The process for counting is also codified,” Kumar stated. He elaborated on the scale of the operation, with over 10.5 lakh booths and about 30-35 lakh polling agents nationwide, making systemic errors highly improbable.
Referring to specific concerns raised by Congress leaders, Kumar dismissed them as baseless. He addressed Congress leader Ajay Maken’s tweet about counting agents being forbidden from sitting at the ARO’s table, stating, “We had to get it countered. Any rumor takes a life of its own. We clarified that counting agents are allowed at every ARO’s table.”
Kumar also countered Jairam Ramesh’s allegations of Amit Shah influencing district magistrates and collectors, who act as returning officers. “A rumor was spawned that ROs had been influenced in large numbers. How can that happen in the country? The people who have been working in this intense heat for the last three months, how can someone influence 500-900 people across the country?” Kumar questioned, inviting evidence to punish any wrongdoers before the counting commenced.
During an in-person meeting with the INDIA bloc on June 2, Kumar assured that all their demands, which align with standard practices, were accepted. He reiterated that the ECI has been training CEOs, ROs, political parties, and district-level officials to adhere strictly to the established procedures.
Additionally, the ECI responded to Ramesh’s request for a week’s extension to file evidence, rejecting it and directing him to submit his response by 7 PM on Monday. Kumar reiterated that thus far, the EC has not received a single complaint from any candidate, polling agent, or polling station personnel.
Kumar’s statements underscore the ECI’s commitment to transparency and the robustness of the electoral process, aiming to dispel doubts and reinforce public trust in the democratic system.
