Congress Alleges Haryana EVM Discrepancies
Congress Submits More Complaints Over EVM Discrepancies
The Congress party has intensified its concerns over EVM discrepancies in Haryana elections, filing additional complaints with the Election Commission of India (ECI) following the recently concluded Haryana Assembly elections. On Friday, several Congress candidates lodged grievances with the ECI, alleging unusual battery levels in some electronic voting machines (EVMs) during the vote counting process on October 8, 2024.
According to reports, Congress candidates from 20 assembly constituencies have raised the alarm, claiming that discrepancies in the EVMs might have influenced the election results. Some candidates, including Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Udai Bhan, have pointed to a narrow margin of loss in certain constituencies as an indicator of possible tampering.
Battery Levels Raise Suspicions
One of the central concerns brought forward by the Congress relates to the battery levels of certain EVMs during counting. In their complaints, the party claimed that most EVMs showed a battery level below 80% during the counting process. However, some units displayed a charge as high as 99%, which raised doubts.
A Congress candidate remarked, “It is unusual for EVMs to have a battery percentage that high after a full day of polling. In fact, wherever the battery was below 80%, Congress candidates seemed to have an advantage, but in those with 99% battery, BJP candidates led by a significant margin. This discrepancy has raised questions about the authenticity of the machines and the final election outcome.”
Suspected Replacement of EVM Control Units
In a further twist, some Congress candidates suggested that the control units of the EVMs might have been replaced. Amit Sihag, one of the complainants, shared his concerns about the integrity of the election process. “During the counting, around 25 EVMs showed an unusually high battery percentage of 99%. This raised suspicions that the control units may have been swapped with other machines, possibly tampering with the results,” Sihag claimed.
He added that this suspected tampering with the EVMs might have affected the election outcome, as many voters and members of his team believed the machines had been manipulated.
Congress Demands Investigation
The Congress has been vocal about its dissatisfaction with the election process and its outcome. The party believes that the discrepancies reported in several EVMs could be a direct reason behind its inability to secure a majority in the state after 10 years of BJP rule.
In a statement, Jairam Ramesh, AICC General Secretary for communications, emphasized the party’s call for immediate action: “We have submitted an updated memorandum to the Election Commission highlighting the serious irregularities found in the election process across 20 constituencies in Haryana. We expect the Commission to investigate these matters thoroughly.”
The Congress has urged the Election Commission to seal the EVMs from the affected constituencies and to initiate a detailed inquiry into the allegations. They have requested that the investigation be completed in a time-bound manner to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
Previous Meetings and Complaints
Earlier in the week, senior Congress leaders had already met with Election Commission officials to present their concerns. Seven complaints were submitted during the meeting, with a promise to provide additional evidence from other candidates. The latest round of complaints includes reports from 20 assembly constituencies, such as Narnaul, Karnal, Dabwali, Rewari, Kalka, and several others where Congress candidates narrowly lost.
These complaints, particularly about EVM discrepancies in Haryana elections, point to the potential that the machines’ battery levels could have influenced the results. Candidates have asked for the Election Commission to ensure that all control units are properly checked for irregularities and that the EVMs with high battery levels are sealed for further inspection.
Conclusion
As the Congress party continues to push for an investigation into the alleged EVM discrepancies in Haryana elections, the Election Commission faces growing pressure to address these concerns. With complaints from 20 constituencies and mounting suspicions of tampering, the outcome of the probe could have a significant impact on the public’s trust in the electoral process.
For now, the Congress remains hopeful that their concerns will be taken seriously and that the Election Commission will conduct a transparent and timely investigation into the EVM irregularities.a
Disclaimer:
This article presents the concerns raised by Congress regarding alleged discrepancies in EVMs during the Haryana Assembly elections. The claims are based on party statements, and investigations by the Election Commission are ongoing.