Congress Leaders Address Media, Raise Concerns Over EVM Malfunctions in Haryana

Chandigarh, 9th October 2024: The Haryana assembly election results have taken an unexpected turn, prompting the Congress party to voice its inability to accept the outcome. This statement came during a press conference on Tuesday, shortly after the BJP achieved a surprising victory, despite early indicators suggesting a comfortable win for Congress.

Senior party leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera addressed the media, attributing their loss to issues with electronic voting machines (EVMs), a common complaint from Congress. They pointed out that the party lost in constituencies where it was considered strong.

“We are receiving ongoing complaints from Haryana. Reports indicate that EVMs with 99 % battery power were linked to our losses, while we succeeded when voting occurred on machines with only 60-70 % battery life,” Ramesh stated.

He further asserted, “This is a victory of the system and a defeat for democracy. We have been raising concerns with the Election Commission since the afternoon. We will formally submit our complaints. Serious doubts have been raised by our candidates, and this outcome contradicts the will of the people of Haryana. Under these circumstances, we cannot accept the results.”

Earlier, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticized the Election Commission for failing to update the results for several constituencies that Congress appeared to be winning. Amid the BJP’s remarkable comeback after initial trends favoured Congress, Hooda remarked, “We are on track for a majority. A misleading narrative is being created. We are winning multiple seats, but the Election Commission is not updating the results. We have leads in constituencies like Adampur, Jhajjar, and Rohtak. I urge our counting agents to remain vigilant at the counting centres.”

Hooda also noted, “We have information that Congress is leading in 10 seats, but the Election Commission has halted counting and isn’t updating those figures.”

The Congress party formally complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding delays in announcing the election results, with Ramesh describing the situation as “mind games.” This complaint followed a significant shift in which the ruling BJP regained the lead in Haryana after early results favoured Congress.

The Congress’s central argument is that the trends on the ECI website lag behind the actual counting, suggesting that local administration could be under undue pressure. “Just like in the Lok Sabha elections, we are again witnessing delays in updating trends on the ECI website. Is the BJP attempting to exert pressure on the administration by disseminating outdated and misleading information?” Ramesh posted on X.

In response, ECI sources dismissed these allegations as unfounded, asserting that the trends were continuously updated on the website. They also recalled addressing similar charges raised by Abhishek Manu Singhvi during the Lok Sabha elections.

While exit polls had forecast a loss for the BJP, which has governed Haryana for two consecutive terms, the party initially trailed but later surged ahead as the day progressed.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Congress leaders remain optimistic. Senior Haryana leader Kumari Selja expressed confidence, stating, “I do not view these trends as definitive results. The outcome will shift again, and Congress will ultimately prevail.”

Following their complaint to the Election Commission, Congress plans to visit counting centres in Haryana where they are engaged in tight contests. Leaders Bhupinder Hooda, Deepender Hooda, and Udai Bhan are expected to be present at these centres, according to sources.