On Wednesday, tensions escalated between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Congress party. The opposition raised serious allegations regarding irregularities in the Haryana election process, particularly claims of EVM tampering. This confrontation has sparked concerns about the integrity of the electoral system and public trust in electronic voting machines.
In response to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge‘s allegations, the ECI issued a strong rebuttal. A delegation from Congress then met with top officials at the ECI. They called for the sealing of specific EVMs while investigations into alleged irregularities in about 20 assembly seats.
After the meeting, AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera announced that the party plans to file another complaint within two days. This shows Congress‘s commitment to addressing its concerns about the electoral process.
Kharge and Rahul Gandhi convened separately to review the election results and discuss the party’s grievances. However, they did not meet directly with ECI officials. Instead, prominent leaders like KC Venugopal, Ashok Gehlot, Jairam Ramesh, Ajay, and Bhupinder Singh Hooda represented the party in discussions with the ECI.
During the discussions, Khera outlined their complaints. The party presented 20 grievances, with seven being formal written complaints from various constituencies. He pointed out a troubling observation regarding EVM battery charges. Some machines were reportedly at 99% charge, while standard machines were only at 60-70% on counting day. This discrepancy raised serious concerns about the reliability of the voting process.
Khera stated, “We requested that these machines be sealed and secured until the investigation concludes”. He also indicated that the party would submit the remaining complaints within the next 48 hours.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Hooda commented on the unexpected election results. Many, including the Intelligence Bureau, experts, and survey reports, had anticipated that Congress would win in Haryana. This sentiment highlights the shock within the party and raises important questions about the electoral outcome.
As the situation unfolds, attention will remain on the ECI’s response to these allegations. The broader implications for the electoral process in India are significant. This confrontation could have lasting effects on public trust in the electoral system and the integrity of future elections.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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