The Congress party has sought to grant permission to Returning Officers to conduct the counting through the VVPAT slips where the reports of use of electronic devices near the strong rooms was reported for which complaints were lodged in Chhattisgarh.

A party delegation which met the Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo on Saturday and sought details on total number of applications obtained for assembly polls for postal ballot against which number of ballot papers issued. 

Congress leaders also sought details of documents made available for candidates even after filing of application for it. The details were sought for Khairagarh Assembly constituency , form 49S, the declaration after completion of polling by presiding officer and Register 17A of each booth were final polling is completed by drawing line by red pen after which signature of polling agents and presiding team is taken.

Leader of Opposition in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, T.S. Singhdeo on Wednesday last had stated that electronic gadgets and equipment are strictly prohibited in the periphery of strong rooms and if such items are being detected , than it certainly raises suspicion.

“In one such incident on November 27 in Dhamtari, one responsible official of state government accompanied by four other persons stayed in strong room for more than three hours along with laptop and other instruments”, he said.

“It was surprising to notice that they reached EVMs carrying electronic gadgets”, Singhdeo said.

“Similarly in Baloda Bazar district headquarters some miscreants broke the security arrangement at the rear of the strong room”, he charged.

“Now on December 4 once gain a police official was found using a laptop near Strong Room in Bemetara district headquarters”, he said.

Singhdeo further demanded from the Election Commission to take the matters seriously and order probe.