On the eve of the crucial Congress presidential election vote counting, the Shashi Tharoor camp raised concerns with the Congress’ Central Election Authority, alleging irregularities in certain states on the voting day. The Tharoor camp specifically claimed irregularities in three states, including Uttar Pradesh, which boasts the largest number of PCC delegates. Their assertion in Uttar Pradesh was that ballot boxes were not sealed as per the authority’s guidelines after the polling concluded.

In two other states, the Tharoor camp contended that state Congress presidents provided identity cards to some PCC delegates on the voting day, openly urging them to vote for Tharoor’s opponent, Mallikarjun Kharge. Madhusudan Mistry, who heads the election authority overseeing the polls, was unavailable for comment, but sources within the authority dismissed the charges related to Uttar Pradesh as baseless.

A source within the election authority refuted the claims, stating that ballot boxes were securely tied to the satisfaction of both candidates’ polling agents. The agents not only signed the boxes, as required, but also expressed gratitude to the returning officers for conducting a fair election.

Salman Anees Soz, a key member of the Tharoor campaign, stated that they had been in continuous communication with the election authority throughout the campaign, including on election day and the day after. Soz indicated that they had communicated their concerns to the election authority and were now awaiting the authority’s response.

As the ballot boxes from across the country were transported to the AICC headquarters for vote counting on Wednesday, Soz, on Twitter, mentioned that despite concerns raised by their UP team, they had written to the CEA immediately. Soz stated that subsequent discussions with the CEA assured them of a fair inquiry, and they had agreed to allow the counting to proceed.

In response to a tweet, Tharoor expressed disappointment that an internal letter to the CEA had been leaked to the media. He hoped that the clarification by Salman Soz would end the unnecessary controversy, emphasizing that the election was meant to strengthen the Congress party and not divide it. Tharoor urged everyone to move forward.