CEC says 'fake narratives' spread to sway elections

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday said "fake" and "mischievous" narratives were spread to sway the general elections and sought proof from the opposition to back its claim that district magistrates were influenced to vitiate the poll process.

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"You cannot spread a rumour and bring everyone under a cloud of suspicion," Kumar said, citing opposition claims on faulty electoral rolls, the efficacy of EVMs, voter turnout and the counting process.

Flanked by election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu, the CEC was speaking at a press conference on the eve of the counting of votes.

"There is a pattern, there is a design, I'm not saying it's a toolkit. But there is a design," the CEC said, adding that cases pending for years were raked up just four days before the first phase of polling.