"Election Commission strength of democracy but now there is question on them": Congress' Harish Rawat

New Delhi [India], November 30 (ANI): After the Congress Working Committee (CWC) accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of "partisan functioning," party leader Harish Rawat on Saturday said the Election Commission, which is the pillar of democracy, is now under scrutiny.
Speaking to ANI, Rawat said that the Congress did not lose the elections solely due to internal shortcomings but also due to an "invisible power" influencing the results.
"The party chief (Mallikarjun Kharge) has clearly stated that we need to take corrective steps. However, it was also highlighted that our defeat was not just due to our own weaknesses but because of an invisible power at play. How can 70 lakh votes be cast within an hour? It's impossible. The Election Commission is the strength of democracy, but now there are questions being raised about its credibility--not just by Congress but by the common people as well," he said.
On Friday, Congress alleged that the "integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised" and pledged to launch a "national movement" to address these concerns.
"The Congress Working Committee (CWC) believes that the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections, a constitutional mandate, are being seriously questioned due to the partisan functioning of the Election Commission. Growing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will address these public concerns through a national movement," the party stated.
The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a significant setback in the recently concluded Maharashtra state elections, securing only 16 seats out of 288 assembly constituencies. Its ally, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), won 20 seats, while the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction managed just 10 seats.
Meanwhile, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance emerged victorious, winning 132 seats. Its allies, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also alleged electoral malpractices in the Haryana Assembly elections, claiming these influenced the outcome.
"The CWC noted that the party's performance in Haryana was contrary to expectations. The Congress should have convincingly formed the government, but it didn't. Electoral malpractices played a role in influencing the result, which have been overlooked," Venugopal said.
In Haryana, Congress suffered another defeat, with the BJP securing a third consecutive term by winning 48 seats in the 90-member assembly, while Congress managed only 37 seats.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also questioned the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), claiming they have made the electoral process suspicious. (ANI)