New Delhi/Kolkata. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Monday said that in an effort to avoid post-poll violence, the Election Commission has decided for the first time to continue the deployment of central forces in some states even after the Model Code of Conduct ends.
He said the Election Commission believes there will be no post-poll violence but still, to avoid any kind of violence, it has been decided to keep central forces deployed for the first time even after the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct were lifted with the counting of Lok Sabha votes on Tuesday.
The CEC said in a press conference here that the states where the deployment of central forces will continue include Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur. He said, “Wherever we fear (violence).” Sources had said on Saturday that based on the assessment provided by the states as well as central observers, the Commission has provided central forces to various states even beyond the counting day on June 4 to avoid any untoward incident.
Security forces have been provided to Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal for 15 days after June 4. Sources said that security forces have been provided to Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh for two days after the counting day. Along with the Lok Sabha elections, assembly elections were also held in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Counting of votes for Sikkim and Arunachal assembly elections took place on June 2.
‘India’ alliance leaders will meet after election results: Congress
Congress said on Monday that the leaders of the opposition alliance ‘India’ will hold a meeting in this regard after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are announced. Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh, while giving this information, dismissed the reports which said that after the election results, the leaders of the ‘India’ alliance will meet and assess the situation and apart from meeting the President, they can also consider many options including addressing a press conference or protesting.
Ramesh posted on the social media platform ‘X’, “After the results are announced, obviously the leaders of the ‘India’ alliance will meet. Any other meaning being drawn from this is completely misleading and wrong.” Counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Tuesday.
Most exit polls have predicted a landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha elections. Most surveys have predicted that the NDA will win more than 350 seats. If the actual results are as per the exit poll predictions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take power with a huge majority for the third consecutive time.
Congress and other constituents of the ‘India’ alliance rejected the exit poll and claimed that the opposition alliance will form the next government. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said on Sunday, “It is not called an exit poll but it is called ‘Modi Media Poll’. This is Modi ji’s poll, it is his ‘fantasy poll’.” Congress leaders have claimed that the ‘India’ alliance will win more than 295 seats and form the government.
Commission refuses to give Ramesh additional time to verify claim of influencing District Magistrates
The Election Commission on Monday refused to give Congress leader Jairam Ramesh additional time to substantiate his claim that attempts were made to influence 150 district magistrates and collectors ahead of the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections on June 4. Ramesh was asked by the Election Commission to submit a factual account of the allegations he made in a social media post by Sunday evening.
The senior Congress leader wrote a letter to the commission on Monday and sought one more week’s time to file his reply.
In a letter to Ramesh, the Election Commission said, “The Commission outrightly rejects your request for extension of time and directs you to file a reply with factual allegations by 7 pm today – June 3. Failure to do so will presume that you have nothing concrete to say in this matter and the Commission will proceed for appropriate action.” The Election Commission said that his allegation has a direct impact on the purity of the counting process to be held on Tuesday.
Does Modi believe in Swami Vivekananda’s ideals of unity and goodwill: Adhir
Congress’ West Bengal unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in the ideals of unity and harmony preached by Swami Vivekananda. Chowdhury’s remarks came two days after Modi completed a 45-hour meditation session at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. The Congress leader said at a press conference in his Berhampur constituency that Swami Vivekananda had underlined the spirit of unity, harmony and love.
He said, “Swamiji taught us to help each other, not to fight; to integrate, not to destroy. I don’t know whether Modi believes in these ideals or not.” When asked about the performance of the Congress and Marxist Communist Party (CPI-M) alliance in the state in the Lok Sabha elections, Choudhary said that the alliance “will definitely perform well.” The senior Congress leader claimed that his party will win all three seats in Murshidabad district and there is a strong possibility of winning in Malda South, Raiganj, Birbhum and Purulia as well.
He said, “If you ask me about the Left Front (Congress ally), they are also expecting to do well in Dum Dum and Kolkata.” When asked how many seats he expects the ‘India’ alliance to get at the national level, Choudhary said, “Our national leadership has already given this figure of 295 or more. What else can I add to this?”
He said that the Congress will contact the Election Commission in Delhi in connection with the post-poll violence, but he did not clarify whether it (violence) is related to West Bengal. On the surge in the stock market after the ‘exit poll’, the Congress leader said that the fluctuations in the stock prices are completely based on speculation, which has nothing to do with the elections. He said, “Some people do this deliberately for more economic benefits. They may have connections with some camps.”