State Congress president Dr Charandas Mahant on Thursday raised apprehensions on manipulation of postal ballots on the day of counting of votes on December 8 in Chhattisgarh.
In a letter to the Election Commission while not naming any political party, Mahant stated,“Considering an average of 700 postal ballots to be received from every Assembly segment, there had been information on the possibility of irregularities expected on the day of counting of votes.”
Mahant stated that the ideal situation could have been that the voters using postal ballot had sent their votes on the day of polling or earlier through post. However, the provision of the postal ballot being accepted an hour before counting throws up the possibility of irregularities and apprehension on pressure being applied on voters using postal ballot.
He said that in a close contest, a win or a defeat could be triggered by a difference of two or three digits which may dramatically alter a situation during counting of votes. “Another concern is that previously there had been instances where the postal ballots have been manipulated as they were counted after counting votes cast in EVMs. It is urged that the postal ballots be counted first and then those of the EVMs,” Mahant said.
He also urged the Election Commission that if in any case all votes do not get counted by 5 pm then the counting should be resumed the next day at 8 am. This apart, Mahant in another letter to the Election Commission also demanded that a Special Observer be appointed in every district to monitor counting of votes.