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The Congress party in India has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately delaying the release of election results for the Haryana Assembly elections. This accusation stems from the discrepancy in the number of rounds counted and the number of rounds being displayed on the Election Commission's website. The Congress alleges that the BJP is using this delay to influence public perception and create a false narrative about their performance.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a tweet, highlighted the delay in uploading updated trends on the Election Commission website. He pointed out a similar pattern during the Lok Sabha elections and suggested that the BJP might be using outdated and misleading trends to pressure the administration. The Congress's concerns are further amplified by the significant lead the BJP has established, surpassing the halfway mark of 45 seats in the Haryana assembly. The BJP currently leads in 48 seats, while the Congress is ahead on 33 seats.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also expressed concerns about the discrepancy between the number of rounds counted and those displayed on television. He argued that the Election Commission data was lagging behind, showing data from only the fourth or fifth rounds, while 11 rounds had already been counted. Khera questioned the reason for this delay, particularly when live data was available for the Jammu and Kashmir elections. This discrepancy in the data, according to the Congress, raises concerns about the transparency and fairness of the election process.
The BJP has dismissed these accusations, with Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's IT cell, dismissing the Congress's claims as a habitual reaction to defeat. He also emphasized the people of Haryana's repeated support for the BJP, highlighting the good work done by the government while in power. Shehzad Poonawalla, a BJP spokesperson, mocked the Congress's early celebrations, pointing out the inconsistency in their reactions, from distributing sweets in the morning to criticizing the Election Commission later in the day.
The Congress's allegations, however, raise significant questions about the transparency of the election process and the role of the Election Commission. The delay in updating results data and the discrepancy in the number of rounds counted and displayed can potentially impact public perception and raise concerns about the fairness of the election. It is crucial for the Election Commission to address these concerns and ensure that the election process is conducted with transparency and integrity.
Source: Delay in poll trends, mismatch: Congress's charge as it trails in Haryana