New Delhi: The Congress party on Friday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) in response to the ECI’s dismissal of its complaints regarding the Haryana assembly elections. The Congress said that it was “not surprised” by the ECI’s self-assessment, which it deemed a “clean chit” and condemned the commission’s reply as “condescending.” Earlier this week, the ECI had described Congress party’s allegations of electoral irregularities as “baseless, misplaced and devoid of facts,” while also warning the party against making unfounded claims in future elections.
In its counter-response, the Congress said that its complaints were specific, while the ECI’s response was generic and aimed at undermining the party’s credibility. The letter, signed by prominent Congress leaders including Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal and Ashok Gehlot, said , “We have carefully studied your response to our complaints. Not surprisingly, the ECI has given a clean chit to itself.” The party further criticised the commission for forgetting its constitutional duties and the significance of maintaining neutrality.
Congress accuses ECI of bias
The Congress said that the tone of the ECI’s communication reflects a lack of impartiality, saying, “If the current ECI’s goal is to strip itself of the last vestiges of neutrality, then it is doing a remarkable job at creating that impression.” The party warned that if the ECI continues to use such language, it may be compelled to seek legal recourse to expunge the remarks, drawing a parallel to past experiences where the ECI sought to contest unflattering comments from the judiciary.
The Congress maintained that its correspondences are focused on substantive issues and uphold the dignity of the election process, saying the need for respect and neutrality from the election authority.
Party says ECI’s tone is condescending
In its response to the Election Commission, the Congress party accused the poll body of using a condescending tone in its reply. The party warned that if this language continues, it may resort to legal action to expunge such remarks. Congress said that its communications were focused on specific issues, respecting the stature of the Chief Election Commissioner and fellow commissioners.
The letter criticised the ECI for lacking neutrality, saying that judges do not attack parties raising concerns. The party said that if the ECI persists, legal recourse would be inevitable, referring to a previous instance involving a high court’s remarks.
