Following a significant defeat in Haryana, Congress leaders met with the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday evening to lodge a strong complaint, alleging that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were hacked during the elections. Party spokesman Pawan Khera stated that hacking occurred across 20 constituencies, with evidence submitted for seven, while documentation for the remaining 13 will be provided within 48 hours.
Khera emphasized the importance of ensuring that all EVMs be sealed and secured until a thorough investigation is completed. The party claims to have presented evidence of hacking in constituencies such as Karnal, Dabwali, Rewari, Panipat City, Hodal, Kalka, and Narnaul.
In the memorandum submitted to the EC, Congress asserted that “counting of votes in a fair, transparent, and accountable manner” is essential for any electoral process that upholds democratic principles. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the face of Congress’s campaign, expressed shock at the results, stating, “Everyone said Congress would form the government.”
Hooda further alleged that the party traditionally performs well when postal ballots are counted but sees a decline in numbers once EVM results are announced. In the Haryana elections, Congress secured only 37 of the 90 seats, while the BJP won a historic third term with 48 seats.
As the vote counting trends became evident, Congress labeled the results as “unacceptable,” asserting that the EVMs had been compromised, a claim met with skepticism from BJP leaders.
The Election Commission responded by denying any discrepancies with the EVMs. In a letter addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the EC criticized the party’s remarks, describing them as an “undemocratic rejection” of the electoral process and the will of the people.
The ongoing dispute highlights the tension between the two major political parties in the wake of the Haryana elections.
