The Congress party voiced strong criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday, alleging that the ECI’s response to the party’s complaints about alleged irregularities in the recent Haryana assembly elections was dismissive and biased. The Congress delegation, which included notable leaders such as former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and general secretaries KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, visited the ECI office in New Delhi to express dissatisfaction with the poll body’s handling of the complaints.
The Congress accused the ECI of providing a “generic non-reply” and focusing on undermining the party’s credibility rather than addressing specific issues raised about election integrity in Haryana. A letter, signed by senior Congress leaders including Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, and Ashok Gehlot, emphasized that while the Congress had confined its communication to issues of concern, the ECI’s response was written in a “condescending” tone, casting doubt on the commission’s neutrality.
“Clean Chit” and Condescending Tone: Congress’s Concerns
In its statement, the Congress claimed that the ECI had “given a clean chit to itself” while addressing Congress’s concerns over the Haryana elections. The party expressed its disappointment, noting that the ECI’s tone suggested a dismissive attitude toward the allegations. “If the current ECI’s goal is to strip itself of the last vestiges of neutrality, then it is doing a remarkable job at creating that impression,” the letter read.
The ECI had previously rejected the Congress’s allegations as “baseless, misplaced, and devoid of facts.” The commission maintained that the complaints raised by the Congress, including allegations of data manipulation and bias in favor of the ruling party, were unfounded and warned against using “frivolous” claims to cast doubts on electoral integrity.
Specific Issues Dismissed with Generic Response
Congress leaders argued that their complaints were specific and detailed, relating to alleged irregularities across 20 constituencies in Haryana. The party criticized the ECI’s response as overly broad and lacking substance, failing to directly address these issues. In their letter, the Congress underscored that the right to question the ECI is an essential component of a democratic process and not an “exception or indulgence” as implied by the commission.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary, took to social media to emphasize this point, remarking that the ECI’s response seemed crafted to “diminish the complainant” rather than engaging with the substantive issues raised.
Congress May Take Legal Action
As the Congress escalated its protest, it warned that it may seek legal recourse if the ECI’s responses remain unsatisfactory. The party suggested that such a course of action would aim to “expunge” remarks deemed inappropriate or biased. Referring to a previous instance where the ECI unsuccessfully sought legal action against a high court’s critical observations, the Congress expressed hope that its concerns would not be dismissed similarly.
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera issued a scathing critique of the ECI’s neutrality, remarking, “If the Prime Minister thinks of himself as God, his CEC [Chief Election Commissioner] will obviously think of himself as God’s gift to mankind.” His statement underscored the Congress’s concern over what it perceives as a growing closeness between the ECI and the current administration.
The Congress’s concerns about the Haryana elections echo similar complaints the party has lodged in the past regarding electoral procedures and potential bias within the ECI. The party claimed that it has filed over a hundred complaints related to statements and conduct by high-profile leaders, including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, which were allegedly overlooked by the ECI. However, according to the Congress, complaints against Congress leaders are scrutinized with greater rigor.
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