Congress Alleges Counting Irregularities: Candidate’s Agents Denied Access to ARO Table

Just before the counting of votes in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Congress party claimed that their candidate’s counting agents were not being allowed at the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) table. Congress leader Ajay Maken expressed this concern on social media platform X, stating that this was the “first time” such an issue had arisen.

Maken, a seasoned politician, highlighted this unprecedented situation, stating, “‘Candidate’s Counting Agents’ at the ARO table are NOT being allowed for the first time!!! I have contested 9 Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha elections in the past- And this is happening for the first time.” He emphasized that this issue was significant, potentially surpassing concerns about alleged “EVM rigging.”

In response to Maken’s post, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Delhi clarified that counting agents of candidates are indeed allowed at the tables of RO/AROs. Maken later thanked the polling body for the clarification, noting, “Your Returning Officers in Delhi were in denial mode till this morning.”