Tue Dec 24 04:21:44 UTC 2024: ## Congress Alleges EVM Tampering in Haryana Election Loss

**Chandigarh, December 24, 2024** – The Indian National Congress has released an interim report alleging widespread irregularities in the recently concluded Haryana Assembly elections. The report, compiled by an eight-member fact-finding committee headed by senior Congress leader Karan Singh Dalal, claims discrepancies in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) contributed to the party’s loss despite pre-election surveys predicting a Congress victory.

Dalal pointed to several key issues, including EVM batteries remaining charged at up to 99% during counting, a slowdown in the counting process, and significant mismatches in vote counts between preliminary and final tallies. He cited examples of disproportionate vote increases in areas where the BJP won by slim margins, particularly in Panchkula and Charkhi-Dadri districts, where increases of 10.52% and 11.48% respectively were recorded after polling concluded.

The report accuses the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing government machinery and alleges that the Election Commission of India (ECI) lacked transparency and was “lackadaisical” in its approach. Dalal questioned the absence of total vote count figures on the ECI website, noting only vote percentages were available. He suggested that the discrepancies indicate either EVM tampering or replacement, rendering the election results unreliable.

The BJP secured a third consecutive term, winning 48 seats compared to the Congress’s 37. While the Congress initially raised concerns about irregularities after the election results, the ECI dismissed these allegations as “generic doubt.” Dalal’s report now provides specific details to support the party’s claims of electoral manipulation. The ECI is yet to respond to the latest allegations.

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