Amit Shah threatened 150 collectors? How Jairam Ramesh got into trouble by making controversial claims, now Election Commission will take action

The Election Commission refused to grant Congress leader Jairam Ramesh additional time to support his claims. Ramesh had claimed that attempts were made to influence 150 district magistrates and collectors ahead of the June 4 counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections. The EC had asked Ramesh to provide factual details by Sunday evening about the allegations levelled in a recent social media post. Taking note of the allegation, the Election Commission on Sunday asked Ramesh to share details in support of his claim. The Congress leader then sought a week’s time to respond. However, the Commission rejected his request and directed him to respond by 7 pm today. Addressing a press conference ahead of the election results, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar also dismissed the allegations levelled by the Congress leader and said it was not right to spread rumours and suspect everyone.

Taking a dig at the opposition, he said that the Commission had made preparations to deal with any foreign attempt to influence the election process, but these allegations have come from within the country itself. Objecting to the allegations of influencing the District Magistrates, the Chief Election Commissioner said that those making the allegations should tell which District Magistrate was influenced and we will punish them. They should tell us before the counting process begins. Kumar had accepted all the demands of the multi-party delegation that met the Commission on Sunday and said that the issues raised by them are part of the election process that has been going on for seven decades.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah was calling District Magistrates or Collectors and “openly” threatening them. During elections, District Magistrates or Collectors are the Returning Officers of their respective districts. Ramesh claimed that Shah has already spoken to 150 District Magistrates or Collectors.