EC seeks report from Maharashtra CEO after allegations by activist

In a series of tweets, Journalist turned activist Saket Gokhale alleged that the Chief Election Officer of Maharashtra hired BJP leader's firm during 2019 assembly polls. Election Commission of India's spokesperson Sheyphali Sharan responded to Gokhale's tweets and said that the EC has sought a detailed report from Chief Election Officer of Maharashtra.

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Thursday sought a detailed report from Chief Election Officer of Maharashtra after Twitter user alleged collusion of state election machinery and BJP IT cell during 2019 assembly polls.

Journalist turned activist Saket Gokhale in a series of tweets alleged that Chief Election Officer of Maharashtra hired BJP leader's firm during 2019 assembly polls and questioned the neutrality of EC.

Election Commission of India's spokesperson Sheyphali Sharan responded to Gokhale's tweets and replied, "Regarding tweets of Mr Saket Gokhale, EC has sought a detailed factual report from CEO Maharashtra with respect to the alleged locale of the incident immediately."

Gokhale tweeted that when he checked Maharashtra's Chief Election Officer's social media page floated during assembly polls he found the address of the page in Vile Parle, Mumbai. A digital media firm owned by Devang Dave, National Convenor of IT and Social media shares the same address, alleged Gokhale.

He also shared the purported client list of digital media firm which included BJP and Union Ministry of Steel.

Gokhale also raised questions including why the background of the firm was not checked and how much access to data of ECI did BJP office-bearer had.

ETV Bharat tried to reach Mr.Dave on these allegations. In his response, he said that allegations levied against him are baseless and a legal team is going through details.

"Completely baseless allegations to malign my reputation as I come from a very humble lower-middle-class background with no hefty political family background and the elitist forces want to target", said Dave.

Our legal team is going through the details and will come up with official reply with further actions soon, he added.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeted "Election Commission is supposed to work independently. Here a company of national office bearer of BJP youth wing was instrumental in handling social media of Chief Election Officer Maharashtra."

The CEO hired the company for Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation(SVEEP). As a part of this program, the Commission puts out an advertisement on social and mainstream media to promote the electoral process and encourage people to vote.