Ramesh, the general secretary in charge of Congress communications, highlighted that the results were both unexpected and surprising, considering the mood of the electorate leading up to the elections. He suggested that the outcome was shaped by manipulation, not the voters' true will. Khera further backed these claims, citing discrepancies in the performance of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in several districts, including Hisar and Mahendragarh. He noted that EVMs with high battery levels were disproportionately registering votes for the BJP, while those with lower battery levels saw a stronger showing for Congress. These patterns, he said, raised questions about the integrity of the process.
Congress officials have communicated these concerns to the Election Commission, with further complaints being prepared for submission. According to Ramesh, the party has been in constant communication with the Election Commission throughout the counting process. He insisted that the irregularities reported from at least three districts affected over a dozen constituencies, contributing to results that seemed contrary to voter sentiment on the ground.
The Congress leadership has also pointed to instances of undue pressure on local administration officials, suggesting that a "double engine" influence—referring to both state and central government involvement—was applied to sway the results. According to Ramesh, the margins in some key constituencies were particularly narrow, with some Congress candidates losing by just a few hundred votes. This, he alleged, indicated foul play, as several of these candidates had previously enjoyed healthy leads.
While the BJP claimed a significant victory in the state, Congress argued that the results could not be accepted under the current circumstances. Ramesh emphasized that the matter would not be dropped and that Congress would continue to challenge the outcome through all available constitutional channels. The party intends to demand an investigation into the use and functioning of EVMs, as well as into the pressure exerted on local officials.
The allegations of manipulation come at a time when EVMs have increasingly become a contentious issue in Indian elections. Although the Election Commission has repeatedly defended their integrity, opposition parties, including Congress, have frequently voiced concerns about the machines being vulnerable to tampering. The Congress party’s claims will likely fuel further debate over the transparency of India's electoral processes, especially in the context of closely fought contests like those seen in Haryana.
As the dust settles on the Haryana elections, the Congress leadership has vowed to keep pressing the issue. Ramesh stressed that the election was not simply about winning or losing but about upholding the democratic process. He criticized what he called a victory for "the establishment" over the will of the people, asserting that the results did not reflect the desire for change that was evident on the ground.