Haryana polls: Cong submits more complaints to EC on 'discrepancies' in EVMs while counting
New Delhi, Oct 11: The Congress on Friday submitted more complaints to the Election Commission alleging discrepancies in the electronic voting machines during counting of votes for the Haryana Assembly elections.
The Congress candidates from 20 assembly constituencies, in their written complaints to the Election Commission (EC), have alleged that the batteries in some of the EVMs were charged at 99 per cent during counting on October 8.
The complaints follow the Congress' shock defeat in the Haryana Assembly elections after the party failed to win a simple majority even after 10 years of the BJP rule in the state.
The Congress has said that the assembly polls results were "unexpected" and have alleged discrepancies in the EVMs in some seats.
"In furtherance of the issues raised and the representation submitted to the Election Commission of India on 9th October, we have now submitted an updated memo highlighting serious and glaring irregularities in the election process in 20 assembly constituencies in Haryana," AICC general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh, said in a post on X.
"We hope that the Election Commission will take notice and issue the appropriate directives," he said while sharing the memorandum to the EC.
"We request you to urgently take action on the enclosed complaints and ensure that all the EVMs from these constituencies are immediately sealed. It is further requested that a detailed inquiry is initiated on our complaints and the same is completed in a time bound manner," the party memorandum to EC said.
Senior Congress leaders had met the Election Commission officials earlier on Wednesday and handed over seven complaints in writing. They had said that they would submit more such complaints in detail from some of its other candidates.
In the memorandum to the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners, the Congress has said, "One of the issues faced by a significant number of our candidates was in relation to EVMs and their Battery Capacity."
It said these EVMs were used for counting of votes polled during the Haryana Assembly elections conducted on October 5.
The party said that it had brought the poll body's attention to at least seven assembly constituencies. In this representation, the memorandum said, "We have collated the additional 13 complaints/issues raised in the Assembly Constituencies of Haryana and enclosed all the 20 complaints."
The complaints have come from the Congress candidates from assembly constituencies of Narnaul, Karnal, Dabwali, Rewari, Hodal (SC), Kalka, Panipat City, Indri, Badkhal, Faridabad NIT, Nalwa, Rania, Pataudi (SC), Palwal, Ballabhgarh, Barwala, Uchana Kalan, Gharaunda, Kosli and Badshahpur.
These include those seats from where the party candidates have lost with a narrow margin and among the complainants include Pradesh Congress president Udai Bhan.
9 अक्टूबर को कांग्रेस पार्टी के वरिष्ठ नेताओं ने चुनाव आयोग को शिकायतों से भरा ज्ञापन सौंपा था। आज उसे आगे बढ़ाते हुए, हमने एक अपडेट ज्ञापन दिया है, जिसमें हरियाणा के 20 विधानसभा क्षेत्रों में चुनाव प्रक्रिया में गंभीर और स्पष्ट अनियमितताओं को हाईलाइट किया गया है। हमें उम्मीद है… https://t.co/ouILdsc3Ws
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 11, 2024
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
