EC rejects Jairam Ramesh's request for 1 week time to back accusations against Amit Shah

The Election Commission of India on Monday rejected Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's request for a one week extension of time to back his accusations against Amit Shah.

The election watchdog has asked Ramesh to provide factual details where Ramesh has alleged that BJP leader and Union Home Minister had called 150 District Magistrates ahead of vote counting. He has been granted time till 7 pm today.

“The process of counting of votes is a sacred duty cast upon every RO (Returning Officer) and 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. Although no DM has reported any undue influence, EC had sought details and information from Jairam Ramesh of 150 DMs to whom Amit Shah has influenced, as alleged by Ramesh and which he believes to be true, and had thus made these allegations," EC said in a letter to Ramesh on Sunday.


The remarks come at the time when the exit polls were released on Saturday evening. Ramesh called them "completely bogus" and have been "orchestrated and masterminded by the man whose exit is inevitable and guaranteed on June 4".

"These are all part of the psychological games being played by the outgoing prime minister (Narendra Modi) and the outgoing home minister (Amit Shah). The outgoing home minister calls up 150 District Magistrates and collectors yesterday. The results that the exit polls have come up with bear no relation to reality," the Congress leader said.