AGM chief moves ECI for transparency during vote-counting process in Assam
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Member of Parliament and president of Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM), Ajit Kumar Bhuyan has moved the CEC (Chief Election Commissioner), ECI (Election Commission of India), to ensure transparency in the counting of votes for Assam Legislative Assembly Election. The process for vote counting will commence from May 2.
Referring to the process, Bhuyan said in a letter submitted to the CEC on Sunday, "So far as the counting of votes is concerned a lot of controversy has been created during election to the Legislative Assembly Election to Bihar held in 2020 — this has cast doubts on impartiality in the counting process.
"In the entire election process, the ECI has to depend on the State bureaucracy and there is apprehension that some section — with bias towards the ruling party — can do mischief in the process of counting.
"To make the counting process fair and transparent, we urge the Hon'ble Forum to take all such possible steps as provided in the 'Conduct of Election Rule-1961' as well as the 'Notifications' issued by the Commission from time to time.
"One such step towards transparency would be to do videography of the entire counting process. As on date provision for videography is there in case of re-verification/re-counting done if victory is decided only on account of postal-ballot counting.
"We, therefore, to remove any apprehension in any quarter request the Hon'ble Commission to videograph the entire counting process without compromising the secrecy of voting."
Bhuyan added, "Without commenting on the merit of the questions raised during 'Bihar Election-2020', we urge the Commission to ensure that no controversy like that of Bihar is created in Assam during counting.
"The videography of vote counting will ensure transparency in the counting process; and, there will be no scope for any party or individual candidates to raise any grievance regarding manipulation in the counting process."
Bhuyan further pointed out in the letter, "We are keeping full faith on the impartiality of the Commission; but, at the same time we want to warn (about) the possible stilling of verdict of the people by manipulation that may be caused by unscrupulous persons which will ultimately mar the reputation of the Election Commission of India."
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