EC Accused of ‘Vote Theft Cover-Up’ in Haryana Polls

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala has sharply criticised the Election Commission (EC), accusing it of deliberately covering up what he described as “mass manipulation” of voter rolls in Haryana. He alleged that instead of addressing serious concerns raised by the opposition, the EC was hiding behind “lame duck excuses,” “puerile legalese,” and “fake technicalities” to avoid scrutiny.

Surjewala’s remarks followed a recent move by the Haryana chief electoral officer (CEO), who asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to furnish documentary proof within ten days to substantiate his claims of large-scale irregularities during the 2024 State Assembly polls.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier asserted that the Congress lost the Haryana elections by a narrow margin of just 22,779 votes across the state, a result he attributed to significant anomalies in the electoral rolls.

Posting a copy of the EC’s communication to Gandhi on social media, Surjewala alleged that the Commission was engaging in “malicious stonewalling” and “obfuscation” to deflect attention from the alleged irregularities. He further remarked that neither the EC nor the BJP had explicitly denied Gandhi’s claims of “vote theft,” which, in his view, raised further questions about the credibility of the electoral process.

In his statement, Surjewala emphasised that the EC’s role is not limited to administrative paperwork but is fundamentally that of a constitutional guardian tasked with ensuring free and fair elections. He argued that resorting to procedural formalities and technical objections as a way to sidestep scrutiny undermines the very democratic values the Commission is meant to safeguard. According to him, such conduct amounts to an abdication of constitutional duty, eroding public trust in the electoral system. He went so far as to describe the alleged inaction as “a crime against democracy and the Constitution,” insisting that legal notices or bureaucratic requirements would not lessen the seriousness of the issue.

Also Read: J-K Congress Accuses Police of Bullying Hunger Strikers

The Haryana CEO’s letter, dated August 10, referred to statements made by Gandhi at an August 7 press conference, in which he alleged that both ineligible electors had been included and eligible voters had been excluded from the rolls. The communication asked Gandhi to submit detailed particulars of the affected electors, accompanied by a signed declaration or oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The Congress leader had also pointed to alleged irregularities in Karnataka, claiming that over one lakh votes were “stolen” in one assembly segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections through five different types of manipulations.

The Election Commission, however, has maintained its demand for concrete evidence, urging Gandhi to either substantiate his claims with verifiable data or withdraw them altogether. EC officials have suggested that making such serious allegations without supporting documentation risks undermining public confidence in democratic institutions.

Despite this, Congress leaders have continued to amplify the “vote theft” charge, framing it as a pressing issue that goes beyond party politics and touches the core principles of electoral fairness.

Also Read: Congress Blasts Centre’s Failure to Curb J-K Terrorism