EC Slams Congress Statement on Haryana Poll Results as Unprecedented in Democracy
India’s Congress party raised concerns with the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Haryana election results, won by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP secured 48 seats, while Congress claimed 37, despite exit polls projecting a Congress win. The Congress termed the result “unexpected and counter-intuitive.”
Senior Congress leaders, after meeting the ECI, reported complaints from 20 of the state’s 90 constituencies. They submitted written grievances from seven constituencies and promised to provide the rest within two days. The ECI, in response, rejected Congress’s objections, calling the party’s statement “unprecedented” and undemocratic.
The commission emphasized that Congress’s rejection undermined India’s democratic traditions and free speech. BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni dismissed Congress’s claims, attributing their loss to a disconnect with the people, rather than vote-counting discrepancies.
Indian law allows candidates to file complaints with the ECI regarding election processes and, if unsatisfied, to seek court intervention. This Haryana election was Modi’s first popularity test since his June re-election. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi previously criticized the national elections as biased toward Modi, although he provided no evidence.
The BJP’s victory in Haryana is a morale booster ahead of upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, expected in November.
