EC to meet Congress delegation today as party flags concern over ‘unexpected’ Haryana result

Congress' 'Haryana results unacceptable' statement 'unheard' in democratic system: EC

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, agreeing to meet the party delegation at 6 pm today.

"The Commission has meanwhile noted the statements from your good self and the Leader of Opposition which have termed the Haryana results as "unexpected" and that the INC proposes to analyse the same and approach the ECI with its complaints/grievances,” the letter read.

“Proceeding on a fair assumption that the statement of the party president is the formal party position on the electoral outcome, the ECI has agreed to meet the delegation today at 6 pm,” it added.

It dubbed the 'Haryana results unacceptable' statement of senior Congress leaders as "unheard in the rich democratic heritage" of the country and far from a legitimate part of free speech. The EC said such remarks by party leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera move towards "an undemocratic rejection of the will of the people" expressed in accordance with the statutory and regulatory electoral framework.

The EC said it has received a request seeking a meeting time for a 12-member official INC delegation, including those who made the "results unacceptable" statement.

Earlier today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the party was analysing the "unexpected" results in Haryana and will apprise the Election Commission about complaints received from various constituencies of the state.

The BJP on Tuesday secured a remarkable third consecutive victory in Haryana, defying anti-incumbency sentiments and dashing the Congress party's aspirations for a return to power. Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference-Congress alliance achieved a remarkable win in the region's first elections since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.

Gandhi said the Congress was looking into the results of Haryana assembly polls.

"We are analysing the unexpected results of Haryana. We will inform the Election Commission about the complaints coming from many assembly constituencies," he said.

"Heartfelt thanks to all the people of Haryana for their support and to our 'Babbar Sher' workers for their tireless hard work," he said in a post in Hindi on X.