The Congress on Monday said Election Commission should probe claims by a US-based self-claimed cyber expert Syed Shuja that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections were "rigged" and said the probe panel should go for 50 per cent check of polling through VVPATs.

The Congress on Monday said Election Commission should probe claims by a US-based self-claimed cyber expert Syed Shuja that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections were "rigged" and said the probe panel should go for 50 per cent check of polling through VVPATs.

Demanding withdrawal of electronic voting machines (EVM) in the coming general elections, 23 anti-BJP parties on Saturday decided to form a four-member committee to prepare a draft on EVM issues to place before the Election Commission (EC), said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Election Commission on Saturday announced that 73.20 percent polling was registered in the Telangana Assembly elections on Friday.

The Election Commission has admitted that the CCTV cameras, installed in the strongroom where electronic voting machines (EVMs) were stored, were completely blacked out during power cut in Bhopal. Opposition parties have been alleging tampering of machines during the time.

With Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) turning out to be a top advertiser on Indian television, Congress has raised its eyebrows asking the Election Commission (EC) to assess BJP's assets.

Chhattisgarh recorded an overall turnout of 76.35 per cent in the two-phased Assembly elections that concluded on Tuesday, 1.05 per cent lower than the voting recorded in 2013, with Kurud in Dhamtari district recording the highest voter turnout at 88.99 per cent.

Voting was underway on Saturday for the by-election to three Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats in Karnataka, an Election Commission official said.

With the announcement of elections in five states, the model code of conduct (MCC) has come into force immediately, which will be applicable to the Union government also insofar as announcements and polity decisions pertaining to the states.

Setting the stage for the high-stakes battle between the BJP and the Congress in at least in three states ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year, the Election Commission on Saturday announced the schedule for Assembly elections in five states, including Telangana, between November 12 and December 7.