Faridabad, Palwal Congress candidates cry foul over EVM tampering, call for probe

Several Congress candidates who lost to BJP rivals in the Faridabad and Palwal districts are refusing to accept their defeat, citing alleged tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs). Some have expressed intentions to seek a legal probe into the issue. Independent candidate Sharda Rathore, who lost to BJP leader and former minister Mool Chand Sharma in Ballabgarh, has joined the chorus of EVM skeptics.

Something went wrong

CCTVs were off for more than 40 minutes, and the authorities have not provided a valid explanation. I am sure something went wrong to manipulate the result in my constituency, which has always been my stronghold. Karan Singh Dalal, five-time Palwal MLA

Lakhan Kumar Singla, the Congress candidate from the Faridabad constituency, stated during a function last night that he had received the people’s mandate, but EVM tampering resulted in his loss. “This issue is worrisome, but the authorities are taking it lightly,” Singla said.

Neeraj Sharma, who lost to a BJP newcomer at the NIT seat, echoed similar concerns. “At least six EVMs in my constituency are suspected of tampering. I demand an investigation into the irregularities,” Sharma said, adding that reports of EVMs showing 99% battery charge during counting were suspicious. He questioned how both exit polls and on-ground calculations could be so off-target.

Vijay Pratap, a prominent Congress candidate from the Badkhal constituency, voiced disbelief over his defeat to a political novice. “There is no way I could have lost. The EVM results from 60 booths are suspected,” he claimed, insisting that the EVM verdict was challengeable.

Karan Singh Dalal, a five-time MLA from Palwal, raised concerns about CCTVs installed at strongrooms being switched off the night before counting. “The CCTVs were off for more than 40 minutes, and the authorities have not provided a valid explanation. I am sure something went wrong to manipulate the result in my constituency, which has always been my stronghold,” Dalal said.

Sharda Rathore, a two-time MLA from Ballabgarh and Independent candidate, alleged that several EVMs were replaced while being transferred to strongrooms on October 5. “No probe was conducted despite protests, as my main rival from the BJP has been in power,” she claimed.

Udai Bhan, president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), who lost the election from the Hodal seat, also alleged EVM irregularities. “The party may decide to demand a formal investigation soon,” Bhan stated.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the district BJP dismissed these allegations as “false and misleading.”