Congress fact-finding panel’s interim report on Haryana loss says ‘mismatch in EVMs, votes’

Congress committee head alleges EVM discrepancies in Haryana Assembly polls, questions Election Commission transparency and integrity.

The head of the Congress’s fact-finding committee that went into the details of the party’s loss in Haryana Assembly polls released an interim report on Monday (December 23, 2024) alleging discrepancies in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) during counting of votes.

“Every survey was in favour of the Congress before the polls, the atmosphere in State was in favour of the Congress. But results were opposite,” eight-member committee head and party’s senior leader Karan Singh Dalal told reporters here.

Mr. Dalal also trained guns on the ruling BJP for “misusing” the government machinery in its favour.

The BJP returned to power for a third consecutive term winning 48 seats; the Congress won 37.

Mr. Dalal alleged that “the issue of batteries of EVMs having remained charged even up to 99% was registered by the Congress and the counting having been slowed down was also an issue”.

“A detailed analysis depicts the mismatch of EVM votes at various booths. The hike of votes in areas where the BJP won with slender margins and the increase of 10.52% and 11.48% EVM votes in Panchkula district and in Charkhi-Dadri district respectively after the end of the polls are other serious indicators,” he alleged.

“All these pointers indicate that there has been some serious manipulation,” he said. “...the conduct of the Election Commission of India is not above board and lacks transparency. Its approach is lackadaisical,” Mr. Dalal said.