The Election Commission of India (EC) has issued a stern letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in response to allegations made by party leaders regarding the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the recent Haryana assembly elections. The EC criticized remarks made by Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh, labeling their claim that the election results were “unacceptable” as “far from a legitimate part of free speech and expression.”
During a press conference, Ramesh and Khera alleged EVM tampering, suggesting that Congress candidates lost in EVMs with a 99% battery charge, while those with 60-70% charge showed victories for the party. Following the election results, where Congress secured only 37 out of 90 seats compared to the BJP’s 48 seats, the party declared it would not accept the verdict, accusing the BJP of conspiring to manipulate the election outcomes through EVMs.
In its response, the EC emphasized that such statements undermine the democratic process and expressed its intention to meet with a delegation of Congress members, including Ramesh and Khera, to discuss the party’s grievances. This situation marks a significant moment in Indian politics, as it represents the first time a major political party has outright rejected election results on these grounds.
Amidst internal party discord, where leaders like Kumari Selja and Bhupinder Singh Hooda acknowledged their defeats and expressed differing opinions on the election outcomes, the Congress party’s stance has ignited discussions about the credibility of the electoral process in India.
