The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a strong rebuke to Congress over claims of alleged irregularities in the recent Haryana Assembly elections, categorizing these allegations as "baseless" and calling them "generic doubts" that lack substantial evidence. Congress had raised concerns about a 99% battery status displayed on certain Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the vote-counting process, suggesting this could indicate tampering with the machines and that authorities might be intentionally slowing down the counting. The ECI, however, refuted these accusations, stating that these sorts of claims can create unnecessary public unrest, particularly during sensitive polling and vote-counting phases, and may threaten to destabilize the democratic process.
The ECI's response, sent directly to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, was unequivocal in its criticism. The letter called the timing of Congress’s claims "sensational" and argued that such allegations could lead to public turbulence, disrupting social order. The Commission expressed disappointment that a national political party would repeatedly cast unwarranted suspicion on the election process without concrete evidence. The ECI underscored that all procedural steps in the electoral process were conducted with full transparency, noting that candidates had given formal consent at each stage. They also warned Congress against this emerging pattern of disputing election outcomes through "generic doubts" whenever results do not favor them, as this could erode public confidence in India's electoral institutions.
Following the BJP’s decisive victory in Haryana, where the party won 48 of the 90 seats in the Assembly, Congress’s reaction was swift. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary and head of communications, held a press conference challenging the outcome, alleging EVM manipulation, and accusing the BJP of subverting the public's will. Ramesh argued that the results were surprising, counter-intuitive, and “did not reflect ground reality.” He also wrote a formal letter to the ECI, alleging a slowdown in the publication of live voting trends on the Commission's website, which he claimed was an effort to obscure real-time voting data from the public.
The ECI responded to these allegations with a clear call for responsibility, urging Congress and other political entities to take "concrete steps" to avoid raising frivolous complaints that could jeopardize the credibility of the electoral process. The Commission reiterated its commitment to timely grievance redressal and to ensuring fair, transparent elections across the country. They underscored that Congress’s recent complaints lack substantiation and reminded the party of its role in sustaining India’s democracy through responsible engagement, rather than resorting to unfounded allegations that could undermine public faith in electoral outcomes.
Despite exit polls predicting a closer contest, the BJP's performance in Haryana was remarkable, achieving a majority in the Assembly elections. This outcome, which defied expectations given the ten-year anti-incumbency sentiment against the BJP in the state, resulted in Congress capturing only 37 seats. This significant difference in seat counts has fueled further criticism from Congress, which maintains that the election results conflict with local sentiments. The ECI, however, maintains that the election was conducted with full transparency and integrity, asserting that any doubts cast on the process should be backed by substantial evidence rather than speculation.
The ECI has further reminded Congress that it values constructive feedback from political parties to strengthen electoral practices but expects allegations to be grounded in evidence. The Commission’s response highlights its commitment to safeguarding the democratic process, emphasizing that unwarranted claims, especially at sensitive stages of polling, can be damaging. As India continues to face increasingly polarized elections, the ECI’s stance reinforces the necessity for all political parties to responsibly engage with the electoral system and respect the institutional safeguards in place, ensuring elections remain a robust and credible pillar of Indian democracy.
