On Tuesday afternoon, the Congress filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission, raising concerns about delays in updating leads and results from the Haryana assembly polls. In a brief letter, the opposition party pointed to an “unexplained slowdown” in the release of results between 9 and 11 am.
“This delay creates space for bad actors to spin narratives that undermine the electoral process,” the Congress stated, warning that these narratives were already spreading on social media. The party expressed concern that such misinformation could influence ongoing counting at several centers.
The Congress urged the Election Commission to immediately direct officials to update the website with accurate and current figures to counter any false narratives and maintain transparency in the process.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also voiced concerns earlier in the day, stating that while results from 10 to 11 rounds of counting had been received, only four to five rounds were reflected on the Commission’s website. He warned against “outdated and misleading trends” being used to shape public perception.
Initially, Congress took an early lead in Haryana when postal votes were counted, but the BJP soon gained momentum as ballot votes were opened. By noon, the BJP was leading with 48 seats, surpassing the majority mark.
Congress’s initial celebrations at its Delhi headquarters were abruptly halted as the party faced the possibility of a third consecutive defeat in Haryana, despite a likely victory in Jammu and Kashmir. However, Ramesh maintained optimism, stating, “There is no need to be disheartened. Mind games are being played. Congress will form the government.”
Responding to Congress’s complaint, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi remarked that the party’s accusations suggested they had “accepted defeat.” “If Congress is pointing fingers at the Election Commission, it is a sign they know they are losing,” Trivedi said. He expressed confidence that the BJP was heading for a significant victory.
This is not the first time Congress has raised concerns over delays in the counting process. In June, during the general election vote count, Jairam Ramesh had implied the Election Commission was acting on external “orders” to slow down the process.