The Congress party has sharply criticized the Election Commission of India (EC) for dismissing allegations of irregularities in the Haryana assembly polls, accusing the EC of lacking neutrality. On Friday, the Congress claimed the Commission’s response was condescending and reiterated its surprise at the EC granting itself a clean chit regarding the complaints. The party underscored that the EC’s explanation was generic, failing to address specific concerns, particularly with issues like the fluctuating batteries of voting machines.
Senior Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, expressed concern over the supposed tone of personal attacks in the EC’s reply, warning that if this persists, legal action might be necessary to expunge such remarks. The party argued that seeking a hearing from the Commission is a duty, not a privilege. Citing past instances where grievances were dismissed without a hearing, the Congress hinted at potentially seeking higher judicial intervention if the EC continues to ignore them.
In a letter addressed to the EC, the Congress criticized the Commission’s previous actions, alleging it failed to take action on over a hundred complaints against the prime minister and home minister, while holding Congress leaders accountable. They further accused the EC of suppressing dissent and resisting efforts for transparency, such as increased VVPAT verification.
The EC, in a reply to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, labeled these concerns as baseless, arguing that they could create unrest during critical periods such as voting and counting. Despite the allegations, the BJP secured 48 out of 90 seats in the Haryana polls, retaining power in the state. The Congress maintains that if it were acting in bad faith, it would have publicly criticized the Commission’s past controversies rather than engaging with the EC respectfully.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/11/02/congress-slams-poll-panel-on-haryana-complaints/
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Publish Date: 2024-11-02 03:34:00
