‘Glaring irregularities’: Congress sends EC list of 13 more Haryana 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. We hope the Election Commission will take notice and issue appropriate directives,” Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said on X.

During counting Tuesday, Ramesh had said that in some EVMs where the BJP won had a battery percentage of 99%, while those with 60-70% battery had Congress winning.

The updated memorandum Friday contained complaints regarding Indri, Badkhal, Faridabad NIT, Nalwa, Rania, Pataudi, Palwal, Ballabhgarh, Barwala, Uchana Kalan, Gharaunda, Kosli and Badshahpur seats, where it urged the EC to seal the EVMs and conduct a detailed inquiry.

Attached with the updated memorandum was a complaint from the party’s Panipat City candidate Varinder Kumar, who alleged that many EVM control units during counting showed a 99% battery. “This is highly unusual and improbable, as the machines were in use throughout the polling day,” he said.

He also alleged his election agents were not allowed to carry copies of Form 17C inside the counting halls and as a result, the election agents were unable to match the data, leading to suspicion of tampering. The form is the record of the number of votes cast in a polling station and is handed over to the candidates’ polling agents upon the close of polling.

Rania candidate Sarv Mitter also alleged that election agents were not allowed to take Form 17C copies inside the hall by the police, while Dabwali candidate Amit Sihag’s complaint said that his team and voters had strong suspicions that the control units of EVMs had been replaced.

The EC did not respond to requests for comment Friday. However, EC sources had told The Indian Express Wednesday that the display unit of the EVM battery showed “99%” charge till it reached 7.4 volts, starting from 8 volts. Once it dips below that, it starts to show the actual percentage. When the battery reaches 10%, it has to be changed.

In a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the EC had said Congress leaders’ statements that they don’t accept the Assembly poll results were a step towards “undemocratic rejection of the will of the people.”