Pre-Election Result Preparations: BJP and INDIA Bloc Approach Election Commission

With just two days before the Election Commission announces the results for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, both the BJP and the INDIA bloc approached the Election Commission to ensure strict adherence to guidelines on June 4, when votes from the seven-phase election will be counted.

Political Leaders Meet Election Commission Officials

On Sunday, leaders from both the Opposition-led INDIA bloc and the Bharatiya Janata Party met with senior Election Commission officials to push their demands.

Opposition’s Concerns Highlighted

Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi briefed the media after the meeting, noting that this was the third time a delegation from the opposition had visited the Election Commission during the general elections. Singhvi emphasized the importance of counting and announcing the results of postal ballots before those of the electronic voting machines (EVMs). He cited statutory rules requiring postal ballots to be prioritized in the counting process, accusing the Election Commission of neglecting this guideline.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury stressed the need for the Election Commission to follow its own protocols, including moving EVM control units through CCTV-monitored corridors and verifying the current date and time display on the units. Yechury also called for checks on the start and end times of the polling process and verification of slips and tags when an EVM is sealed, ensuring transparency and authenticity.

Strategic Meeting of Opposition Leaders

Senior INDIA bloc leaders gathered in the national capital on Saturday to plan their strategy for the counting day. The meeting, however, was not attended by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who led the discussions, announced that they would meet with Election Commission officials on Sunday to address specific issues. The opposition parties have instructed their agents to closely monitor the vote-counting process on Tuesday and ensure that Form 17C, which records the number of votes at each polling station, is shared with them.

Piyush Goyal’s Statement Post-Meeting

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, after meeting with the Election Commission, stated that they had to approach the Election Commission due to persistent attempts by some political parties, led by the Indian National Congress and their INDIA alliance partners, along with certain civil society groups and NGOs, to undermine the integrity of India’s electoral process. He criticized these efforts as direct attacks on the country’s democratic institutions.

BJP Delegation’s Appeal to Election Commission

A delegation of BJP leaders, led by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, met with the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners on Sunday, urging them to implement four crucial measures. Piyush Goyal outlined these steps: ensuring that every official involved in the counting process is thoroughly familiar with the procedures and adheres to Election Commission protocols, maintaining the security of the electoral process during counting and result announcements, recognizing systematic attempts to undermine the process, and taking strict action against those responsible.