New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday dared the opposition to share evidence of allegations that returning officers and district magistrates were influenced to vitiate the poll process so the panel could take action against them.
The opposition should also tell the Commission about those trying to influence the poll process before the counting of votes begins, Kumar said at a press conference. He was flanked by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu.
“You cannot spread a rumour and bring everyone under a cloud of suspicion,” Kumar said.
The Commission had made preparations to deal with any foreign attempt to influence the poll process but these allegations have come from within the country itself, he said in an apparent dig at the opposition.
Taking exception to allegations that district magistrates were being influenced, the CEC said, “Those levelling allegations should say which DM was influenced and we will punish them. They should tell us before the counting process begins.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah had been calling district magistrates and collectors and indulging in “blatant and brazen” intimidation.
District magistrates and collectors are the returning officers of their respective districts during election.
Ramesh claimed that Shah had already spoken with 150 district magistrates or collectors.
Kumar admitted that the Election Commission had failed to counter the mischievous narratives spread during the poll process.
