Congress flags ‘EVM issues’ to Election Commission in 20 Haryana assembly segments

The Congress on Friday submitted a detailed memorandum to the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding intervention to address alleged Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) discrepancies in 20 Haryana assembly segments where its candidates lost by narrow margins.

The complaints relate to 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.

Congress candidates from 20 constituencies, in their written complaints to the EC, have alleged that some EVMs showed 99 per cent battery charge during counting on October 8. These clocked more votes for the BJP as against majority EVMs with 80 per cent charge which recorded more Congress votes.

In making this point, Congress alleged tampering with EVMs.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in furtherance of the issues raised and the representation submitted to the EC on October 9, “We have now submitted an updated memo highlighting serious and glaring irregularities in the election process in 20 assembly constituencies in Haryana.”

“We hope that the Election Commission will take notice and issue the appropriate directives. 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 said.

The Congress has said Haryana results were unacceptable and the party was analysing them.

Earlier, a high level Congress delegation met Chief Election Commissioner and alleged that a significant number of party candidates had complaints in respect of EVMs and their battery capacity.”