INDIA bloc urges ECI to count postal ballots first; BJP alleges opposition undermining process

As the nation braces itself for the announcement of Lok Sabha election results on June 4, leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc visited the Election Commission of India (ECI) with a flurry of demands. At the same time, adding to the charged political atmosphere, Union Ministers and prominent BJP figures, Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitharaman, also made their presence felt at the ECI.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal criticised what BJP perceived as attempts by INDIA bloc to tarnish the sanctity of India's democratic processes.

"We had to call upon ECI today, in light of the repeated attempts by a section of the political parties led by the Indian National Congress and their INDI alliance partners and certain motivated civil society groups and NGOs who are trying their level best to undermine the integrity of India's electoral process. Their efforts against India's robust electoral process are a direct attack on our democratic institutions," Goyal said post-meeting with the full bench of Election Commission members.

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Goyal elaborated on the BJP's four demands made during their meeting.Goyal said, "We have requested EC every official engaged in the counting process be fully conversant with the minutest details of the prescribed process and engage diligently with all EC protocols...second, to ensure safety and security of the electoral process during the counting and announcement of results...third, to take cognisance of the systematic attempts to undermine the electoral process and take stringent action against those responsible."

INDIA bloc meets EC officials

INDIA bloc's delegation also met with the Election Commission, with Sitaram Yechury of the CPI(M) calling for adhering to their demands, including that the postal ballotsbe counted first and announced and after that, the EVM counting should begin. "We are saying that it should be followed."

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D Raja of the CPI underscored the importance of upholding the Conduct of Election rules 1961.

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Congress leader Salman Khurshid expressed optimism saying, "We requested for very strict vigilance during the counting process and they gave us a satisfactory reply... We didn't question any rules but made sure they are adhered to and followed faithfully. The meeting has been very promising."

Meanwhile, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Congress, outlined a specific concern regarding the counting order of postal ballots and EVMs.

"Our complaint is that this statutory rule of this 2019 guideline has been given goodbye. The Election Commission has repealed this 2019 practice. The net result is that by method of practice, EVMs can be counted and if EVMs counting gets over before the postal ballot, it will still be completed," Singhvi said.

(With inputs from agencies)