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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has firmly rejected allegations of irregularities in the Haryana Assembly election put forth by the Congress party, deeming them “baseless.” This decisive action came on October 29, 2024, with the ECI issuing a strong statement cautioning the Congress and other political parties against making “unfounded and sensational” complaints, particularly during crucial phases like polling and counting days. The ECI emphasized that such irresponsible allegations can fuel public unrest, turbulence, and widespread chaos.
In a letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the ECI expressed concern over the Congress's consistent pattern of raising baseless doubts about the integrity of India's electoral process. The ECI noted that the Congress's allegations, often timed strategically close to polling or counting days, lack evidence and create unnecessary tension in an already charged environment. The ECI pointed out that the Congress's claims appear to target the very core of the Indian electoral process, with the ECI highlighting a noticeable trend of using ordinary aspects of the electronic voting machine (EVM) system to raise doubts at the national level.
The ECI highlighted that each step in the Haryana electoral process was meticulously carried out under the watchful eyes of Congress candidates and their representatives. The ECI further emphasized that all 26 representations received from the Congress regarding alleged irregularities had been forwarded to the respective returning officers (ROs), the statutory authorities responsible for concluding the electoral process. The ECI stated that each RO had provided detailed constituency-wise responses to the Congress candidates, including supporting documentation, effectively refuting the claims. The Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana, too, dismissed the Congress's complaints as unfounded.
The Congress had previously alleged that EVM batteries were functioning at different levels of capacity during the vote counting process, suggesting potential manipulation. However, the ECI's response to these allegations was firm and detailed. The ECI revealed that a significant number of Congress representations failed to specify when the battery capacity was observed at 99%, raising questions about the validity of the claim. Furthermore, the ECI emphasized that the Congress representatives actively participated in various stages of the election, including the EVM processes, which further weakens their claims of irregularities.
Source: EC rejects Congress charges of irregularities in Haryana Assembly election