‘Frivolous, unfounded’: Election Commission firmly denies Congress’ allegations of irregularities in Haryana polls

The Election Commission on Tuesday dismissed Congress party’s allegations of irregularities in the recent Haryana assembly elections, asserting that the party was merely raising “the smoke of a generic doubt” about the credibility of the electoral process.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the poll panel warned that such “frivolous and unfounded” claims could create “turbulence” during critical phases like polling and counting, moments when public and political anxiety is heightened.

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The BJP secured its position in Haryana by winning 48 of the 90 seats in the October 5 assembly elections, while Congress claimed 37 seats, the INLD took two, and Independents won three.

The eight-page letter outlined that the Congress party had sought clarification regarding the “perceived lack of clarity” concerning the display of 99 percent battery status on the control unit of electronic voting machines (EVMs) during counting at certain polling stations in 26 assembly seats in Haryana. The EC noted that embedded in this concern was the fear of the control unit being replaced.

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During a meeting with the EC, a Congress delegation raised this issue, highlighting that their candidates or representatives had informed returning officers about it, including written representations in six constituencies.

In response, the EC expressed disappointment, stating, “This is least expected of a national political party. The commission appreciates the criticality of the considered views of political parties in sustaining and strengthening electoral democracy in the country and assures that it will remain committed towards timely grievance redressal,” PTI reported.

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The commission urged the Congress party to adopt a more constructive approach in line with its “long and illustrious standing.”

After a thorough re-verification by returning officers of the 26 contested constituencies, the EC confirmed that every step in the electoral process was conducted flawlessly, with party candidates or agents present at all stages.

The response from EC officials, totaling 1,600 pages, provided evidence that authorised representatives of party candidates were present throughout the process, including during the battery placement at the time of commissioning and continuously for 7-8 days until the counting concluded.

Regarding the battery status claims, the EC clarified that battery voltage and capacity have no relevance to the vote count operations or the integrity of the EVMs. The display of battery status is merely a feature to assist technical teams in monitoring power levels, ensuring smooth device functioning throughout polling.

The EC slammed the Congress for focusing on ordinary aspects of EVM functionality or the electoral process and framing them as new issues needing resolution. It also referenced 42 judgments from constitutional courts that, after reviewing various materials, expressed confidence in the EVMs’ reliability.

(WIth PTI Inputs)