'Share details of Shah calling DMs': ECI to Jairam Ramesh
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked Congress leader Jairam Ramesh to provide detailed information about his allegations that Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted 150 district magistrates prior to the vote counting. The EC emphasized the need for specific details, despite no district magistrate reporting any undue influence, citing "larger public interest" due to the seriousness of the claims made by a senior leader.
EC's letter to Ramesh requests factual information
In a letter to Ramesh, the ECI wrote that the vote counting process is a "sacred duty" and public statements by senior leaders can cast doubt. "Such public statements by a senior, responsible and experienced leader tend to put an element of doubt and thus, deserves to be addressed in larger public interest," it wrote. Therefore, it requested Ramesh to share factual information about his allegations by Sunday evening.
Ramesh accuses Shah of intimidation, predicts BJP's exit
On the last day of polling, Ramesh accused Shah of "blatant and brazen" intimidation through phone calls to district magistrates. In a social media post, Ramesh alleged that Shah had contacted 150 DMs, demonstrating the BJP's desperation. Furthermore, Ramesh predicted that "the will of the people shall prevail" and "on June 4th, Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, and the BJP will exit, and the INDIA Janbandhan will be victorious." He urged officers to resist any pressure and uphold the Constitution.