“Every candidate and polling agent should be alert during the counting. You must raise objection over every irregularity that you witness and you must file objections to the district returning officer in a timely manner,” said Congress state president Kamal Nath while addressing the training session of the party candidates and polling agents, here on Thursday.
The 229 candidates of the Congress and their polling agents were provided training on 54 points. A reference kit was also distributed to the participants during the session which aimed to train them on how to conduct counting. Nath sensitised the participants to fight against any injustice that they discover during the counting.
He appealed “Opportunity does not come on a golden platter, it has to be taken with vigour and alertness. Each and every vote and machine is important, everyone have to be alert during the counting”. He said “After every round ask for the certificate from DRO, no matter what.”
State in-charge Deepak Bawaria said “Kamal Nath had formed the best team and the election had been contested under his leadership, on December 11 the Congress will be in a position to form the government.” Leader of opposition Ajay Singh asked the participants to take care of the strong room from December 9 and 10, because manipulation can happen during these days.
Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha and a team of advocates provided detailed training through the presentation. He added “A big team of advocates is monitoring the elections and the election process is done according to constitution and People’s Representative Act”.
The 54 instructions provided by Tankha include: reach the counting area before time, note the time of machine opening and closing, importance of postal ballot and VVPAT, lottery system to conduct sample checking, tabulation of slips, calculation sheet, and not to leave the counting area until the counting is finished.
Participants were told to keep their mobile or any recording device outside the training hall. The members kept on raising slogans as their leaders reached the meeting area. New members who have joined the Congress party including MLA Sartaj Singh and Sanjay Masani also attended the meeting.
‘I am not in race for CM’
Kamal Nath said that he is confident of forming government, while addressing the media he said that we will win 140 seats in the elections, and form government on December 11. He also praised the administration for working without any biased or favour for any party. Responding to a query on chief minister post, he ‘smiled’ and said, “I am not in race of CM.” He said, “We have taken lessons from Gujarat and Karnataka elections and will not allow any mistake to be repeated in MP.” He said name of post collector should be changed it will be done after seeking their suggestion on the same.
Helpline no. to report irregularity
During the training session the Congress candidates and their polling agents were told that they can report any irregularity they witness on a help line number. Once a complaint is filed it will be forwarded by the Congress to the Election Commission.
‘Welcome MLAs’, Ministers’
A hoarding welcoming the pparticipants for the training session read ‘We welcome the MLAs and the ministers’. The hoarding had pictures of AICC president Rahul Gandhi, former AICC president Sonia Gandhi, member of parliament Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kamal Nath, ex-MLA Govind Singh Rajput and one Asmat Siddique.
