EC Refuses More Time To Jairam Ramesh To Back Claims On ‘Phone Call To 150 DMs’ Before Vote Count

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Monday rejected Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s request for additional time to back his claims over Amit Shah’s alleged calls made to 150 District Magistrates (DM) ahead of vote counting for Lok Sabha elections on June 4.

He has been asked to reply by 7 pm. “The Commission hereby outrightly rejects your request for time extension and directs you to file your response along with the factual matrix/ basis of your allegation by 7 PM today — June 3, failing which it would be presumed that you have nothing substantive to say in the matter and the Commission would proceed ahead to take appropriate action”.

On Saturday, Ramesh alleged that Shah has been calling district magistrates and collectors and indulging in “blatant and brazen” intimidation in a social media post. “The outgoing home minister has been calling up DMs/Collectors. So far he has spoken to 150 of them. This is blatant and brazen intimidation, showing how desperate the BJP is,” he wrote on X.

Following which, the poll body asked him to submit factual details over his allegation by Sunday evening. Ramesh, however, wrote to the EC on Monday seeking a week more to submit his reply.

The EC further stated that his allegation that attempts have been made to influence the district magistrates of around 150 parliamentary constituencies, who are also the returning officers and district election officers, has serious connotation and direct bearing on the sanctity of the counting process scheduled for Tuesday.

No DM has reported any such undue influence as alleged by him, it added.