Since the Election Commission (ECI) announced the polling schedule for the Lok Sabha elections, opposition parties led by Congress have been alleging rigging of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). However, initial trends on Tuesday indicate that the INDI Alliance is leading by 228 votes. According to the latest numbers reported by India Today, the BJP-led NDA alliance is leading in 294 seats.
After the exit polls showed a big win for the BJP-led NDA alliance, the INDIA parties asked the ECI to ensure that the counting of postal ballots is completed first and that its results are declared on the Returning Officers’ table before the final counting of the EVM votes. Additionally, they wanted the poll body to ensure the “safe movement of the Control Units (of the EVMs) through a CCTV-monitored corridor, verification of the current date and time displayed by the Control Units, and confirmation of the start and end time and date of the voting process to the counting agents.”
In UP’s Amethi constituency, Congress candidate Kishori Lal has taken a significant lead over the incumbent Smriti Irani, who is currently trailing by a margin of 3,100 votes. Meanwhile, Election Commission trends show that out of the 42 seats in West Bengal, TMC is leading with 23 seats, followed by 6 seats for the BJP and 3 for Congress.
Similarly, in Kerala’s Wayanad constituency, a competitive three-way battle is unfolding involving Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, BJP’s K. Surendran, and Annie Raja from the Communist Party of India. Even here, trends show the Gandhi scion leading with a margin of 45,000 votes. Additionally, in Rae Bareli, Gandhi is currently leading by 50,589 votes.
