Lok Sabha Election Result 2024: ‘EVM rigging’, Congress flags new rule barring counting agents at ARO tables on June 4

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vote counting process on June 4. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Maken wrote, “Candidate’s Counting Agents at the ARO table are NOT being allowed for the first time!!! I have contested 9 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in the past- And this is happening for the first time."The Congress MP called it an issue “bigger than the alleged EVM rigging" while urging the Election Commission of India to address it.

“If true, this is bigger than the alleged EVM rigging! I am flagging this issue for all candidates! I hope @ECISVEEP rectifies it soon," he added.Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh reacted to the development, terming it “mass rigging".According to the Election Commission of India, the Returning Officer (RO) must start the counting process at the designated time, and the polled EVM Strong Room should be opened in the presence of the Observer, RO/ARO, and the candidates or their election agents. The entire process should be recorded via video with date and time stamping to document the movement of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), Control Units, and other relevant documents in the Counting Hall.

Everyone in the counting hall has a legal obligation to maintain the secrecy of the vote. Hence, they must refrain from sharing any kind of information, as per EC guidelines.

Counting Agents and others are not allowed to leave the Counting Centre during the counting process. They can generally only exit after the official declaration of results.