INDIA bloc objects to ECI changing rules on postal ballot counting
This was the third time the multi-party delegation of the INDIA bloc met the ECI.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 3 Jun 2024 2:24 AM GMT
NEW DELHI: Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has strongly objected to the Election Commission of India changing the rule about the counting of postal ballots.
A delegation of senior leaders of the INDIA bloc comprising Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Salman Khurshid, Naseer Hussain, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Ram Gopal Yadav, and others today met the EC officials to raise their complaint.
This was the third time the multi-party delegation of the INDIA bloc met the ECI.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Dr Singhvi said, the ECI has decided to change the rule regarding counting of the postal ballots first.
He said under the existing rule 54-A, the counting of the postal ballots has to be completed in any case before the counting through the EVMs is completed.
He said it is a rule that if counting postal ballots is not completed first, the counting result through EVMs cannot be declared. He said this is because the postal ballots can completely swing the results and impact the outcome.
Dr Singhvi asserted that a guideline cannot change a statutory rule. Hence, the ECI cannot do away with the rule that the counting of the postal ballots has to be completed before completing the EVM counting. āWe are only asking for implementation of the existing rulesā, he remarked.
