New Delhi:

Lok Sabha election over, both Opposition INDIA bloc and the ruling BJP knocked at the doors of the Election Commission today in tit-for-tat moves. While the Opposition asked the Commission to ensure that all guidelines are followed during Tuesday’s counting, the BJP warned the poll body against “coordinated attempts” by the Opposition to “undermine the integrity” of the electoral process.

“They (the Opposition) are directly attacking the Democratic institutions and pose a threat to the electoral process,” read the letter from the BJP, signed by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal.

Accusing the Opposition of working according to a plan that first discredits institutions and then the electoral process, the BJP mentioned the recent hearing on Electronic Voting Machines in the Supreme Court.

“They have a clear pattern, 1st they target the institution then they target the process and methods of the Institution and then if the judgement goes against then they’ll raise questions and cases on the elections process, EVM and VVPATS,” the letter read. “When they are losing an election they are looking for a scapegoat and looking to justify the loss and they don’t want to accept the reality of who the voters choose,” it added.

The top court, the BJP pointed out, has rejected the appeal for a return to ballot papers, with some strong comments.

Earlier today, the Congress said this was the third time they were meeting the Commission during the election. Among other things, the parties flagged the issue of ensuring security to the Electronic Voting Machines and VVPATs (Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail machines).

They have urged officials to ensure that the control units of the EVMs are moved through CCTV-monitored corridors and verify the current date-and-time display of the control units.

“This verification is important because unless it is done, there is no authenticity that it is the same control unit that came from the polling booth, that it has not been changed,” said CPM’s Sitaram Yechury.

The Opposition parties have also underscored the need for election officials to stick to the guidelines during counting. The letter was sent to the Commission after a 2.5-hour meet of the INDIA bloc yesterday, focusing on a strategy for the counting day.

The Opposition’s frequently flagged concerns about the EVMs have been brushed aside by the Supreme Cour last month. While the court gave a massive vote-of-confidence to EVM machines, the landmark judgment also included a precautionary measure — the sealing of a crucial part of VVPAT machines and enabling the first and second runners-up in an election to challenge the outcome without going to court.

Last month, the Opposition had also flagged an instance where CCTV cameras at the spot where Electronic Voting machines were stored for the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, was switched off for 45 minutes.

The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) alleged that it was “suspicious’ and demanded an explanation from the Election Commission. The Returning Officer for the constituency said only the “display was temporarily closed”, but cited no reason for it.

New Delhi:

The Election Commission has arranged for massive security during counting and after, for two states that have made headlines with poll-related violence. Central forces will be stationed Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal for 15 days after the votes are counted on Tuesday, sources said. Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh have been provided with security forces for two days after the counting day.

Sources in the Commission told NDTV that the poll body will be tough on post-poll violence. The provision of troops has been made on the basis of an assessment provided by the states and Central observers.

The Commission’s decision came as the long-drawn seven-phase election concluded this evening. Even today, violence in Bengal made headlines.

In South 24 Parganas district, an angry mob forced its way into polling stations, seized an EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) and threw it in a nearby pond after some polling agents were allegedly barred from entering the booths.  Clashes were reported from the heart of Kolkata too — Satuliya area in Bhangar within the Jadavpur constituency. Several people were injured in the confrontation between the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and CPI(M).

Sandeshkhali under Basirhat Lok Sabha — which was a running theme for the BJP in this election after allegations of sexual exploitation against the  local Trinamool leader — also witnessed violence that started on Friday night and continued till after polling started in the morning.

Diamond Harbour, the stronghold of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, saw clashes between TMC and BJP supporters.

In Andhra Pradesh, clashes between workers of Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party and the ruling YSR Congress made headlines on the second phase of polling in May.  

With exit polls predicting advantage for the BJP and NDA in both states, calm could prove elusive.

New Delhi:

The Election Commission has asked concerned Chief Electoral Officers and state authorities to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather or rainfall wherever predicted in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls.

The poll panel has made adequate arrangements for the Phase 6 of the Lok Sabha polls to be held on Saturday.

Polling is scheduled in 58 PCs across eight states/UTs. Haryana and NCT of Delhi will head to polls in this phase. Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are the other states/UTs which will continue with their polls in this phase. Polling for 42 assembly constituencies for the Odisha State Legislative Assembly will also take place simultaneously.

The poll panel said that polling stations are ready to welcome the voters with ample shade, drinking water, ramps, toilets, and other basic facilities to ensure that polling takes place in a comfortable and secure environment.

Polling parties have been dispatched along with machines and poll materials to their respective polling stations.

The Commission has called upon voters to turn out in large numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride.

“Voters of PCs in urban centres like Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad are specially reminded about their right and duty to vote and break the trend of urban apathy,” Election Commission said in a release.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court has adjourned – till after the Lok Sabha election – pleas seeking release of voter turnout data, including votes polled and/or rejected, within 48 hours of end of polling at each booth.

The pleas sought directions to the Election Commission to compile and publish this data on its website after each phase, beginning with the next round of voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

A vacation bench of the court reasoned an immediate ruling could “overburden the Election Commission during polls… by changing the process midway”. The bench also noted five of seven voting phases had been completed and that the results were due in less than two weeks, on June 4.

Perhaps more significantly, Justice S Narasimha and Sanjay Karol pointed out the interim appeal by the current petitioner – the Association for Democratic Reforms – was similar to a writ petition by the Trinamool’s Mahua Moitra in 2019, which wanted the EC to “formulate a protocol mandating reporting of Form 17C… within 48 hours (for a Lok Sabha election)”, which is unresolved.

I was original petitioner in Supreme Court in 2019 itself via WPC 1389/2019 asking EC to publish within 48 hrs of polling all voter data of Form 17C. Case is listed on May 24 for hearing.@AITCofficial@MamataOfficialpic.twitter.com/F1aqS9nK4R

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) May 20, 2024

“We are simpliciter (directly) adjourning… (and) giving one observation as to why relief cannot be granted at this stage,” the court said, stating also that this did not constitute a dismissal of the pleas.

“Prima facie we are not inclined to grant relief at this stage, in view of similarity of prayers… granting interim relief would mount to final relief. Therefore, we list these applications after the vacation…”

“What is the nexus between 2019 and 2024 applications? Why didn’t you file a separate writ petition?” the court questioned ADR, insisting it would not intervene in the middle of an election.

“This application will be heard after the election… in-between an election, hands off! We cannot interrupt (the electoral process)… we are also responsible citizens,” Justice Datta said.

Form 17C Hearing In Supreme Court

Today’s hearing began with senior advocate Maninder Singh, arguing for the Election Commission, criticising the petition as a “classic case of abuse of law” and said it was only meant to “erode the integrity of the election”. “These are false allegations… done only on apprehensions,” Mr Singh said.

Mr Singh questioned opposition leaders and political activists’ claim of five to six per cent discrepancy in voter data released by the poll panel on the day of voting and updated figures released days later; in the case of the first phase this updated data was released after 11 days.

Several opposition leaders, including Mahua Moitra and the Congress’ Pawan Khera, have red-flagged what they claim as possible vote fraud – i.e., there is concern the increased number of votes shown after polling could be illegally added to the tally of any one political party.

However, Mr Singh told the court, “This is false… data will differ only by one or two per cent.”

READ | Making Form 17C Data Public Will Cause Confusion: Poll Body

In the last hearing the EC had argued there is no legal mandate requiring release of Form 17C data to a “general entity”, and that this information had only to be released to the polling officer in a booth.

Meanwhile, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Ms Moitra, had argued that even if the petition had travelled from 2019 to 2024 it should be heard as it deals with a serious issue.

The court then noted that even if it were to consider and rule on the petitions, it had to “very conscious of the ground reality”. “Tomorrow (May 25) is the sixth phase… this particular compliance would require manpower (and) we feel this could be heard after the vacation,” Justice Datta said.

“(There are) roughly 10 lakh Form 17C forms for a total of 543 constituencies… it is manageable because of the army below them (the Election Commission),” Mr Singhvi responded.

The court, though, was not convinced.

Form 17C Row In Supreme Court

The row is over the swift release of data from Form 17C and Form 17C (Part II) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which records a multitude of data, starting with the name of each polling booth and includes the number of voters, number of votes rejected, and the number finally accepted.

NDTV Explains | Form 17C And Row Over Poll Panel’s Voter Turnout Data

The second part of Form 17C is also critical; this comes into play on counting day (June 4, in this case) when the number of votes for all candidates is cross-checked against the total number of accepted votes on polling day. This is to guard against manipulation of votes for/by any party.

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New Delhi:

The Election Commission, criticised over what many called its kid-glove treatment of the BJP and its leaders, today read the Riot Act to the ruling party as well as the Opposition for campaigning along the lines of “caste, community, language, and religion”. The party in power at the election time has extra responsibility. No unlimited extra space should go to the opposition either, the Commission said ahead of the last two phases of election.   

“Political parties will have to take primary responsibility for the conduct of their candidates, star campaigners in particular. Campaign speeches by those holding high positions are of more serious consequences,” the Commission said.

The BJP — as the ruling party at the Centre — has been asked to stop campaign speeches that may divide society.

The Commission said it expects the BJP to “fully align campaign methods to the practical aspects of the composite and sensitive fabric of India”.

The star campaigners of the party have to adhere to the Model Code direction that “No Party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing difference or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic,” the Commission said.

“India’ socio-cultural milieu is an enduring preserve cannot be made a casualty to elections,” the Commission said. The two big parties are not allowed to weaken the heritage of quality electoral experience of Indian voter, the poll body said.  

The poll body’s statement came amid massive criticism of its handling of Model Code violation allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress’s Rahul Gandhi. After each party filed petitions against the other’s leader, the Commission sent notices to the respective party chiefs.

The critics have also questioned the Commission’s silence about Model Code Violation complaints and its findings. The poll body has also been criticised for discontinuing the traditional practice of holding press briefings after every phase of election.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday said that election-time seizures have reached Rs 8,889 crore, with drugs comprising 45 per cent of the total.

“Enhanced vigil against inducements, including drugs and psychotropic substances, has resulted in big seizure actions and a continuous surge. Drug seizures have been maximum. Regular follow-ups and reviews of districts and agencies in areas of expenditure monitoring, precise data interpretation and active participation of enforcement agencies have led to this significant spurt in seizures since March 1,” the poll body said

The seizure of drugs, liquor, precious metals, freebies, and cash influences elections in varying degrees, some flowing directly as inducement while others through reduced levels of circulation of money.

The Commission, led by CEC Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, held meetings with the DG, Narcotics Control Bureau, to take up analytics-based proactive action for ensuring action by dedicated Nodal Officers of NCB.

Similarly, active involvement of the DRI, Indian Coast Guard, state police and other agencies was ensured during the ongoing elections. All these measures have led to significant seizures in the two months since the announcement of the polls.

“With the increasing intensity of campaigning in the last three phases, the Commission is keeping close tabs on attempts at influencing voters through inducements and has directed the CEOs and enforcement agencies to step up the vigil. The crusade against drugs and other inducements by the Commission will continue,” it added.

The EC stated that the Gujarat ATS, NCB and Indian Coast Guard, in joint operations, have made three high-value seizures of drugs in just three days, amounting to Rs 892 crore.

“These elections have witnessed a series of targeted actions against the menace of drugs. Other states apart from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi have also shown seizures of drugs. On 17.04.2024 Noida Police busted drug factory in Greater Noida wherein 26.7 kg of MDMA drug valued at Rs. 150 Crore were seized and two persons of foreign origin were arrested. The seizures in other cohorts have equally been impressive and surpasses the entire seizures of 2019 Parliamentary Elections by a big margin. Meticulous and exhaustive planning stands at its base,” it stated.

Real-time reporting of interceptions and seizures under the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS)- an in-house app, has resulted in quick, regular and precise reviews on expenditure monitoring. In addition, 656 Expenditure observers deployed for Parliamentary Constituencies and 125 expenditure observers are also keeping a close tab on check posts, functioning of ground level teams and are actively monitoring to ensure that citizens are not put to discomfort in the process of monitoring.

A close vigil is also kept in 123 Parliamentary Constituencies which are marked as expenditure-sensitive constituencies for more focused vigil.

The process of motivating agencies and having an active interface started in full force during the last quarter of 2023. In the first two months of the calendar year, already Rs. 6760 crore worth of drugs were seized, which conveyed a message that the Commission has a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to any form of inducement that may influence the voters.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Election Commission has served Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay a show-cause notice for “improper, injudicious and undignified remarks” remarks against Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The poll panel said the remarks, prima facie, violated Model Code of Conduct provisions and its advisory dated March 1.

The remarks by the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from the Tamluk seat were made at a public meeting in Haldia district on Wednesday, and were made public after a video emerged online a day later.

The comments – condemned as sexist – prompted the Trinamool to file a complaint with the top poll panel, accusing the former judge – with whom the party has had several run-ins – of making “misogynistic” comments. The BJP, however, has denounced the video as “fake”.

In a letter to the EC, the Trinamool hit out at the “very shameful and egregious statement” made by the BJP leader and alleged that comments showed the Tamluk candidate’s “misogynistic mindset”.

“Mr Gangopadhyay’s vulgar and uncouth remark(s)/comment(s) are completely beyond the grounds of decency and morality. They not only lack decorum but also exhibit a blatant disregard of the only lady Chief Minister, Smt. Mamata Banerjee,” the letter read.

The letter also alleged that BJP candidates were making “indecorous and degrading statements” against women to garner votes.

The Trinamool Congress demanded that the poll body issue orders to initiate criminal proceedings against the Mr Gangopadhyay and ban him from attending public meetings or rallies. The letter also sought directions to be issued to BJP candidates, barring them from making “personal, objectionable and disgraceful” remarks.

The BJP has fielded Mr Gangopadhyay from Tamluk seat in West Bengal where voting will be held on May 25.

The EC in its notice noted that Mr Gangopadhyay’s comment has been found to be “improper, injudicious, beyond dignity in every sense of term, in bad taste” and prima facie violative of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and its advisory to political parties.

The EC has sought a response by 5 pm of May 20.

New Delhi:

The Election Commission on Thursday directed the Union home ministry to retain 25 companies of central forces in Andhra Pradesh even after counting of votes on June 4 following post-poll violence in the state as it conveyed its displeasure to the state chief secretary and the police chief over the incidents.

In a statement, the EC said “without mincing any words”, it directs the chief secretary and the director general of police to ensure that such violence is not repeated and all SPs to be tasked with take pre-emptive measures to avoid such a situation in future.

The poll authority had summoned chief secretary K S Jawahar Reddy and DGP Harish Gupta to Nirvanchan Sadan here to seek “personal explanation” over the incidents of violence reported on Monday and Tuesday.

“The Commission decided to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to retain the 25 CAPF (central armed police force) companies in Andhra Pradesh for 15 days after counting, to control any violence after declaration of results,” the poll panel said.

It said the state government had requested that central forces be retained for 15 days post counting.

Post-poll violence was reported in parts of Andhra Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday where Lok Sabha and assembly polls were held simultaneously on Monday.

The leaders of the ruling YSRCP and opposition TDP have levelled allegations against each other for the incidents.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The affidavit of Comedian Shyam Rangeela, who had filed a nomination to contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat was rejected by the Election Commission on Wednesday. In a video message, Mr Rangeela claimed that out of the 55 candidates vying for the seat, the forms of 36 nominees met rejection, while the affidavits of 15 candidates, including PM Modi and Congress pick Ajay Rai, sailed through the scrutiny process.

Mr Rangeela has alleged a series of hurdles in the nomination process, claiming he was barred from submitting his papers on time. His accusations extended to the District Magistrate’s office, where he alleged being unfairly singled out and denied assistance during the filing process. 

“Today, the District Magistrate told me that there was some issue with my documents and that I did not take the oath. They did not let the lawyers go in with me and called me alone. My friend was beaten up. Modiji may act and cry, but I don’t want to cry here,” Mr Rangeela said.

वाराणसी से नहीं लड़ने देंगे ये तय था, अब साफ़ हो गया
दिल ज़रूर टूट गया है, हौंसला नहीं टूटा है ।
आप सबके सहयोग के लिए शुक्रिया ।
मीडिया और शुभचिंतकों से निवेदन है कृपया अभी कॉल ना करें, जो भी सूचना होगी यहाँ देता रहूँगा, शायद अब थोड़ी देर बातचीत करने की इच्छा नहीं है pic.twitter.com/aB6AZqLGqv

— Shyam Rangeela (@ShyamRangeela) May 15, 2024

“27 nominations were submitted yesterday and 32 were rejected today, I feel like laughing at the Election Commission, should I laugh? Or should I cry?” he added.

नॉमिनेशन के पीछे का कारण जो चुनाव आयोग कार्यालय से आपको दिखा रहें है उसकी भी सच्चाई आपके सामने रख रहा हूँ,
लोकतंत्र में उन्हीं को लड़ने का अधिकार है जिन्हें आयोग चुनेगा pic.twitter.com/aBFK6Zejry

— Shyam Rangeela (@ShyamRangeela) May 15, 2024

The response from the official Varanasi District Magistrate’s account attempted to justify the rejection, citing deficiencies in Mr Rangeela’s affidavit and failure to comply with procedural formalities. 

“Your nomination paper was scrutinised in your presence and you were informed about the deficiencies. Your nomination paper has been cancelled because the affidavit submitted by you was incomplete and you did not take the oath/affirmation, a copy of the order of which has also been made available to you,” Varanasi District Magistrate S Rajalingam wrote on X.

आपके नामांकन पत्र की संवीक्षा आपके समक्ष की गयी तथा कमियों से आपको अवगत कराया गया। आपके द्वारा प्रस्तुत शपथ पत्र अपूर्ण होने एवं आप द्वारा शपथ/प्रतिज्ञान न लिये जाने के कारण नामांकन पत्र निरस्त किया गया है, जिसके आदेश की प्रति भी आपको प्राप्त करायी गयी है। @ECISVEEP

— DM VARANASI (@Varanasi_DM) May 15, 2024

Formerly a staunch supporter of PM Modi, Mr Rangeela had said that the circumstances have evolved over the past decade, prompting his decision to contest against the Prime Minister from Varanasi.

“In 2014, I was a follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I shared many videos supporting the Prime Minister. Videos were also shared against Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal. Seeing them, one could say that I will vote only for the Bharatiya Janata Party for the next 70 years. But the situation has changed in the last 10 years. I will now contest against the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha polls as an Independent candidate,” he had announced.

The Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency witnessed a historic clash in 2014 when Mr Modi, then BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, contested against AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Mr Modi’s resounding victory, with a margin exceeding 3 lakh votes, solidified Varanasi’s position as a BJP stronghold, a legacy he aims to extend in the upcoming elections.

Varanasi, comprising five assembly seats, has been a battleground where the BJP and the Congress have locked horns over the years. Since 1957, while the BJP has enjoyed significant success since 1991, winning the seat seven times, the Congress has also wielded influence, securing victory six times. The Varanasi seat has never been won by the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Srinagar:

People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has written to the Election Commission to stop the alleged harassment and “illegal” arrest of the party workers.

In her letter to ECI, Ms Mufti said, “It has come to my attention that the state administration, under the control of the Union government, is shamelessly engaged in activities aimed at intimidating voters and supporters of the People’s Democratic Party. I am deeply troubled by reports of security agencies conducting raids and harassing PDP workers in the Pulwama and Shopian districts. Numerous party members, sympathizers, and activists have been arbitrarily detained without justification, apparently as punishment for their efforts to organize public rallies and encourage voter turnout.”

“As the custodian of democracy, the Election Commission plays a crucial role in upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring a level playing field for all political parties. However, recent actions, such as the delay in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, have raised serious concerns about the Commission’s impartiality and emboldened those who seek to manipulate the electoral outcome through coercion and intimidation,” she added.

Further, Ms Mufti alleged that the situation has escalated to a point where the security establishment is instilling a “climate of fear” in areas slated for elections on May 13.

“It is distressing to witness history repeating itself, reminiscent of the 1987 rigged elections that caused immense suffering and political disillusionment in the region. The blatant efforts to marginalize the People’s Democratic Party, which represents the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, only serve to deepen wounds and erode trust in democratic institutions,” Ms Mufti said in her letter.

The PDP chief also mentioned that the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting the assembly of people in areas witnessing high political activities, is shocking and deeply concerning.

“Citizens are being deprived of their right to express their democratic voice, simply because they are expected to support the PDP. If the Election Commission of India is unwilling to address these issues and uphold the integrity of the electoral process, it would be tantamount to condoning electoral malpractice and betraying the very essence of democracy,” she said.

“Through this urgent appeal, I seek not only to convey the apprehensions of my party but also to articulate the sentiments of the broader populace. I implore your office to take immediate and decisive action to thwart any attempts at election rigging and safeguard the democratic values that define our nation,” she added.

In 2019, polling for the Lok Sabha was held for six seats in Jammu and Kashmir. However, following the abrogation of Article 370, which resulted in the split of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, there is no longer a separate Lok Sabha constituency for Ladakh.

Voting for the Udhampur and Jammu seats was concluded on April 19 and 26 respectively while Srinagar will go to polls on May 13.

Baramulla seat will vote on May 20 while the Anantnag-Rajouri seat on May 25.

 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)