Congress Leaders Question Election Results in Haryana, Plan to Approach Election Commission

Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh addressing the media during the Press Conference at AICC Headquarters in New Delhi. Image Source : Screen Grab / Video of the Press Conference / @INCIndia on X

Dated 8th October 2024

By B R Abdul Wajid

Chief Political Editor

New Delhi: Today, Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh addressed the media during a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi. Speaking on the recent election results in Haryana, Pawan Khera raised serious concerns about the unexpected outcomes.

Pawan Khera highlighted that the results of the Haryana elections were completely unexpected and unacceptable. He mentioned that there were numerous complaints from three districts—Hisar, Mahendragarh and Panipat—regarding the voting machines. According to Khera, machines with 99% battery levels consistently produced results favoring their opponents, whereas machines with 60-70% battery levels showed victories for Congress candidates.

Khera emphasized that these irregularities cannot be ignored. He stated that the Congress party is collecting all complaints, and their candidates have already submitted grievances to the returning officers. In the coming days, the Congress party plans to take these complaints to the Election Commission and officially register their concerns.

Expressing his disbelief at the unexpected results, Khera remarked, “No one can believe that such an unexpected outcome would emerge in Haryana. We are all shocked. To sum it up in one line, this is a victory of the system and a defeat of democracy. We cannot accept this.”

“Alliance Government Prioritizes Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, Questions Haryana Election Results” ~ Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh while addressing the media, expressing significant statements on the recent elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. Speaking at the press conference, Ramesh emphasized the decisive mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir and raised concerns about the election process in Haryana.

Ramesh highlighted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a clear, decisive and convincing mandate to the alliance between the National Conference and the Indian National Congress. He stated that the top priority for the alliance government will be the restoration of full statehood for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He added that both parties are committed to providing a government that is responsible, responsive, accountable and transparent to the people.

He remarked, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have defeated the mischievous designs of the BJP to engineer a majority of its own.”

Regarding the Haryana elections, Ramesh shared his ongoing communication with the Election Commission. He mentioned receiving very serious complaints about the counting process and the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in at least three districts. He assured that this information is being collected and will be presented to the Election Commission in a consolidated form soon.

Ramesh expressed his disbelief at the unexpected results in Haryana, saying, “The results in Haryana are totally unexpected, completely surprising and counterintuitive. It goes against the ground reality and the will of the people, who were seeking change and transformation.”

He further emphasized, “Under these circumstances, it is not possible for us to accept the results announced today. Serious questions have been raised by our candidates, and we will bring these to the notice of the Election Commission.”

Ramesh concluded by stating that what happened in Haryana is a victory for manipulation and subversion of the people’s will, marking a defeat for transparent democratic processes. He assured that the chapter on Haryana is not complete and will continue.

The Congress party made it clear that they are determined to seek justice and ensure that the democratic process is upheld in both Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana.