Responding to complaints from the Congress about “irregularities during the counting of votes” in the Haryana Assembly elections, the Election Commission on Tuesday termed the allegations “baseless” and said that representatives of Congress candidates were present during the commissioning of the EVMs, polling, sealing, opening of strongrooms and the entire counting process. A Congress delegation had met the poll panel on October 9 to express its concerns over vote counting in Haryana, alleging that EVMs that had 99% battery during counting showed BJP wins, while those at 60-70% charge registered Congress victories. The party submitted complaints from 26 constituencies. Writing to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday, the EC said the allegations had the potential to cause “turbulence”. It said detailed reports from the returning officers of the 26 constituencies had been received and compiled by the Haryana Chief Electoral Officer. “The returning officers have not found any evidence of any wrongdoing in any electoral processes. The replies reflect continuous participation of INC candidates, representatives and their agents in various processes of election, including EVM processes. Total 19 representations do not even mention at what point in time the battery was showing 99% capacity, and how does it have a bearing on results and whether any complaint was made at any stage before declaration of result. ROs have listed 10-12 stages where candidates/authorised agents have participated in the process and have attached minutes signed by various candidates/ their authorised agents,” the EC said. Citing recent allegations by the Congress regarding the electoral process, the EC said: “It is needless to remind that such frivolous and unfounded doubts have the potential of creating turbulence when crucial steps like polling and counting are in live play, a time when both public and political parties’ anxiousness is peaking… The persistence of this approach is disconcerting when it emanates from a reputed National Political Party of historic standing with those many years of experience in the electoral field.” The poll panel urged the party to “amend” its approach and set an example for responsible conduct for others. It also said it had updated its Frequently Asked Questions section to answer the concerns raised by the Congress. Among the new FAQs answered on Tuesday was why does the EVM battery pack show 99% even after a full day of use. The reply states: “The EVM power pack is designed to support 4 BUs [ballot unit] along with 1 CU [control unit] with 2000 votes being cast. The voltage falls very gradually when the capacity is high but falls rapidly when the battery capacity reduces below a threshold. In case of lighter current load like with a single BU and less than 1000 votes being cast, the battery current drain is low and output voltage may not drop below 7.4V and can thus so display of 99% capacity.” In its letter, the EC said the Congress’s complaints about the battery percentage showed “a lack of clarity and understanding of the exact implications of the display on the CU”. “Erroneously, the display of 99% as 'battery status' is being invoked to suggest a replacement of CU surreptitiously — a total impossibility — as informed and explained by respective ROs. Any suggestions to see a relationship between the display of battery status on the CU and voting count within the CU, is outside the basic design of the EVM system,” the EC said. The EC reiterated that the EVM does not require any external power source and is a stand-alone system. The single-use alkaline battery was in a secure compartment and the insertion and sealing was done in the presence of candidates or their agents. “The display of the status of battery on the CU is primarily to facilitate the technical and poll duty teams to be alert to replace/change battery units. Hence, no record keeping of power pack battery levels is provided for, nor is it required. It has fail-safe features i.e. its 'discharge' or replacement cannot erase or, in any way effect the vote count or any other operational features,” the EC said. Contrary to exit poll predictions, the ruling BJP secured a historic third term in Haryana, winning 48 Assembly seats. The Congress managed to win only 37 seats.
