EC refuses extra time to Congress’s Jairam Ramesh to back claims on attempts to influence DMs ahead of election results

Ramesh was asked by the poll panel to submit factual details by Sunday evening of the allegations that he made in a social media post recently

Congress's Jairam Ramesh wrote to the EC on Monday seeking a week more to submit his reply. PTI

The Election Commission on Monday refused to grant more time to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh to file reasons to back his allegations that attempts were made to influence 150 district magistrates and collectors ahead of counting of votes.

The poll body on Sunday had asked Ramesh to submit factual details of the allegations that he made in a social media post recently.

Ramesh wrote to the EC on Monday seeking a week more to submit his reply. Dismissing the request, the EC said in a letter to Ramesh: “The Commission hereby outrightly rejects your request for time extension and directs you to file your response along with the factual matrix/ basis of your allegation by 7 PM today — June 3, failing which it would be presumed that you have nothing substantive to say in the matter and the Commission would proceed ahead to take appropriate action”.

The EC said that the Congress leader’s allegation has serious connotation and direct bearing on the sanctity of the counting process scheduled for Tuesday. The EC also said no DM has reported any such undue influence as alleged by him.

Recently, the Congress had also claimed that “mass rigging” would take place during counting of votes, with MP Ajay Maken claiming that ‘Candidate’s Counting Agents’ would not be allowed at the Assistant Returning Officer’s (ARO) table for the first time. Maken had flagged this issue on social media platform X, with Ramesh reposting it. However, the EC soon clarified that counting agents of the candidates would be allowed at tables of returning officers or AROs.

With inputs from PTI

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