New Delhi, — In a dramatic turn of events following the Haryana Assembly elections, a delegation of Congress leaders has alleged that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were manipulated to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday, demanding an investigation into reported discrepancies found in the EVMs used during the elections. Congress leaders highlighted glaring irregularities, particularly pointing to claims that certain EVMs operated at an unusually high battery capacity of 99%, while the average battery life typically ranges between 60% to 70%.
The party alleged that these machines disproportionately favored BJP candidates during the vote counting process. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who led the delegation, expressed concerns over the surprising results of the elections. When the counting of postal ballots took place, the Congress was winning, but when the counting of EVMs started, the opposite happened,” he stated in a press briefing following the meeting with EC officials. The Congress delegation, which included notable figures such as former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and K C Venugopal, presented a memorandum detailing specific complaints from multiple assembly constituencies.
The complaints encompass at least 20 allegations, with seven submitted in writing. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera emphasized the need for immediate action, urging the EC to seal and secure the contested EVMs until a thorough investigation is completed. We also informed the EC that in the next 48 hours, we will provide additional complaints we are compiling,” Khera said.
The party's memorandum to the EC underscored the importance of fair and transparent vote counting, stating, As the Congress party awaits a response from the Election Commission, the controversy surrounding the Haryana polls raises significant questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the reliability of EVM technology in India’s democratic framework. The Congress has vowed to continue pursuing this issue, with more complaints expected to be submitted in the coming days. The EC has assured the party of a thorough review of the allegations and will provide a written response after consulting with the respective returning officers.