“Ill-Founded Allegation Of Slowdown”: Election Commission Responds To Jairam Ramesh
As the voting for the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir elections progressed, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh has raised concerns over the delay in updates on election trends on the Election Commission of India website. Now, the Commission has responded to the allegations of the Rajya Sabha MP and denounced them as “ill-founded allegation of slowdown in updating of results.”
The Rajya Sabha MP has alleged that the outdated data is used to influence the administration. In a post on X, he wrote, “Like the Lok Sabha elections, in Haryana, we are again witnessing slowing down of uploading up-to-date trends on the ECI website. Is the BJP trying to build pressure on administration by sharing outdated and misleading trends?”
The Commission said that previously on June 4, 2024, in the context of General Elections 2024, a somewhat similar concern was raised by Congress which was ill founded and dismissed by the election body. It said that the Commission categorically responded that counting of votes is being carried out as per Rule 60 of Conduct of Election Rules at the designated counting centres and by the designated authorities following the Statutory and Regulatory regime.
With reference to Jairam Ramesh’s allegations regarding slowdown in updating of results of Haryana on the ECI Website, the Commission reiterated that, entire counting process in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir is unfolding in the presence of candidates, observers and micro-observers as per the Statutory scheme. “There is nothing on record to substantiate your ill-founded allegation of slowdown in updating of results. Your Memorandum also does not bring out any contrary facts as to the delay at any of the constituencies in Haryana or J&K,” it said.
The Commission claimed that approximately 25 rounds across all the constituencies are being updated every five minutes, which testifies dissemination of counting process in a speedy manner.
“In view of the above, I am directed to convey that the Commission unequivocally rejects your attempt to surreptitiously give credence to irresponsible, unfounded and uncorroborated malafide narratives,” a statement from SB Joshi, Principal Secretary, Election Commission of India said.
