New Delhi:

The Election Commission on Tuesday criticised the Congress for making “baseless allegations… when faced with inconvenient electoral outcomes”. The sharp rebuke comes after the Congress’ repeated claims – between October 8 and 10 and again on October 14 – about procedural irregularities during the Haryana election that it lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party, despite racing into a big early lead.

In a fierce statement the EC rejected the Congress’ claims – specifically “an unexplained slowdown in updating of (Haryana election) results” on its website on counting day – October 8 – for two hours.

The EC cautioned the Congress, and other political parties, against making “unfounded and sensational complaints” during an election, including when votes are cast and then counted.

“Irresponsible…”: EC Slams Congress

“Irresponsible allegations can lead to public unrest, turbulence, and chaos,” the EC said, and urged the Congress to take “firm and concrete steps and curb (this) tendency of frivolous complaints”.

“Each step in the electoral process in Haryana was flawless and executed under the watch of Congress candidates or agents,” the EC pointed out in a formal response running into 1,600 pages.

The document contained point-by-point rebuttals to each of the Congress’ complaints, from a demand for clarification on the battery status of the counting unit (CU) of the electronic voting machines (EVM) to the “deliberate slowdown in the speed of counting and uploading of data” on the EC website.

On concerns about the battery, the EC said the display of voltage and capacity is “irrelevant to the EVM’ s vote-counting functionality and integrity”. “Battery status displayed on CU serves only to assist technical teams in monitoring power levels… to ensure smooth operation during polling,” the EC said.

The battery levels could influence voting outcomes was dismissed as “preposterous”.

The EC said it had forwarded all of the Congress’ complaints to the ROs, or Returning Officers, and that each official had submitted reports that confirmed a cleanly-conducted election. It also noted the complaints were “too general… as if candidates filed these under some ‘common’ direction”.

Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer had also rejected the Congress’ claims.

Haryana Election: What Happened?

On October 8 – when it became clear the Congress’ early lead had slipped away and the BJP was set for a storming comeback win – the party filed a complaint against “bad faith actors”.

The Congress red-flagged concerns that incorrect, or delayed, trends for some seats “can then be used by these mala fide (bad faith) actors to influence processes where counting is still underway…”

The EC had then hit back immediately and dismissed the Congress’ “ill-founded” concerns.

READ | “Reject Your Attempt To…”: Poll Body On Congress’ Haryana Claim

The poll panel said it “unequivocally rejects your attempt to surreptitiously give credence to irresponsible, unfounded and uncorroborated mala fide narratives”.

A day later the EC again criticised the Congress.

READ | “Can’t Accept Verdict”: Congress’ Doubts Over Haryana Counting

This was after the party, in an unprecedented move, said it could not accept the verdict of the Haryana Assembly election. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, “The Haryana results are unexpected, surprising and counter-intuitive… it is not possible for us to accept the results.”

READ | “Unheard In Democratic System”: EC On Congress’ Haryana Remark

The EC said the Congress’ statement on the verdict was “unheard (of) in the rich democratic heritage” of the country and far from a legitimate part of free speech.

The BJP retained control of Haryana after winning 48 of the state’s 90 Assembly seats. The Congress won 37, with the five remaining divided between the Indian National Lok Dal and independents.

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New Delhi:

With exit polls predicting a Congress win in Haryana, the focus has moved to who would be the next Chief Minister.

Health warning: exit polls often get it wrong.

Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said if it comes to deciding the next Chief Minister, that’s a call the “high command” would take.

There are 90 seats in the Haryana assembly, so the halfway mark is 46. Most exit polls predicted the Congress would likely win between 44 and 61 seats.

Asked about senior leaders Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala also airing their chief ministerial ambitions, Hooda said, 

“We are expecting to win many more seats. Under the BJP, law and order has become worse, corruption has increased, and sports have not been spared too,” Mr Hooda told NDTV today.

On a question to a buzz about some Congress leaders working on a cabinet formation plan, Mr Hooda said, “The high command will decide. These are hypothetical questions.”

Senior leaders Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala have also made their chief ministerial ambitions known. On whether Ms Selja would become the next Chief Minister, Mr Hooda said, “This is democracy. Everybody should aspire. You can also aspire. But the MLAs will decide, the high command will decide.”

During a rally on September 27, Mr Hooda had predicted a “massive mandate” for the Congress in Haryana. He dismissed talks of infighting, and said the party would get more strength from having multiple claimants for the chief minister’s post.

The voting for 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, the first in almost a decade, took place in three phases – September 18, September 25 and October 1. While voting for 90 seats in Haryana state polls is underway.

The votes for both will be counted on October 8. The focus now shifts to exit polls, which try to predict election outcomes by interviewing voters right after they have cast their votes.

Banned during the voting process, exit polls can be made public 30 minutes after voting ends.

This is to ensure that the polls don’t influence people while they are still voting, but also still allows for immediate analysis and discussion once the process is complete.

Warning: The exit polls do not always get it right. They have been way off the mark in the past.

Exit Polls 2024: Date And Time

TV channels and websites will broadcast exit poll data on October 5 after 6.30 PM.

Exit polls are calculated using a combination of sampling methods and statistical analysis by various agencies.

Where To Watch Exit Poll Results

Catch the live stream of Exit Poll results for the 2024 Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls on NDTV. You can also track the live updates on the exit poll results on YouTube and all social media channels of NDTV.

For more highlights, you can follow NDTV’s live blog.

New Delhi:

After high-octane campaigns and elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, it’s time for Exit Polls. Jammu and Kashmir is all set to get a new government after the assembly elections held over three phases – September 18, September 25 and October 1 – after a gap of 10 years.

Haryana voted today. A total of 1,031 candidates are contesting in all 90 assembly constituencies, and 20,632 polling booths have been set up for voting.

The results for the Haryana Assembly elections will be declared along with those of Jammu and Kashmir on October 8.

Health Warning: Exit polls are not always accurate.

Here are the Live Updates on Poll of Exit Polls:

Poll of exit poll: Congress government should be brought to power in Haryana – Bajrang Punia

Congress leader and wrestler Bajrang Punia said that the Congress government should come in power next in the state. Bajrang Punia arrived at a polling station in Jhajjar to cast their vote for the 2024 Haryana elections.

“I appeal to the people of Haryana to vote as much as possible. Today there is a lack of employment in Haryana. The government that was in power from 2005-2014, every section of the society developed. In the last 10 years, be it sportspersons, farmers, soldiers, or whoever raised their voice, they were lathi-charged. So keeping this in mind, you should vote as much as possible. Congress government should be brought to power in Haryana,” Bajrang Punia said while speaking to ANI.

61% Turnout Recorded Till 5 pm: 10 Points

Poll of Exit Poll Election Results: “Atmosphere of change, Congress will win” – Ashok Tanwar exudes confidence

ongress leader Ashok Tanwar on Saturday exuded confidence in winning maximum number of seats in the Haryana Assembly polls.

After casting his vote, Congress leader Ashok Tanwar says, “Congress will get a minimum of 75 seats. There is an atmosphere of change and Congress will definitely get great success… Congress party stands with all sections and this mandate is against”.

Election 2024 Exit Poll: “Good work has been done in Haryana in last 10 years,” says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that good work has been done in Haryana in the last 10 years and no one takes seriously what the Congress says. “In the last 10 years, good work has been done in Haryana with the blessings of PM Modi. No one takes seriously what Congress says. For 70 years, they have made false promises. They can win a few elections here and there but will not come to power. The words of Rahul Gandhi are so objectionable that it saddens us, he can criticise us but he shouldn’t say things which harm the nation,” Mr Rijiju said.

Poll of exit poll: Incoming Jammu and K government will be ‘toothless tiger’, says Iltija Mufti

PDP leader Iltija Mufti said the incoming government in Jammu and Kashmir will be a “toothless tiger”, while its Chief Minister will be a “rubber stamp” and “glorified mayor” of a “municipality”.

Jammu and Kashmir is all set to get a new government after the results of the Assembly elections held after a gap of 10 years are announced on October 8.

“With the LG ‘nominating’ five MLAs and the chief secretary changing transaction of business rules, it’s clear that the incoming government will be a toothless tiger,” she said.

J&K exit polls: Farooq Abdullah rules out post-poll alliance with BJP

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday asserted that his party would not forge a post-poll alliance with the BJP for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We cannot go with the BJP. The vote which we have got here is the vote against the BJP. The difficulties they put the Muslims in, bulldozed their shops, houses, mosques and schools, do you think we will go with them?” Mr Abdullah told PTI videos.

Exit Poll 2024: Bhupinder Hooda Predicts Haryana Result
“There is a pro-Congress wave in Haryana. The Congress is coming, BJP is going. Every section of society is frustrated with the BJP and looking up to Congress. The Congress will form government in Haryana,” said former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Exit Poll 2024 Results: No Anti-Incumbency In Haryana,” Says Haryana Chief Minister
“There is no anti-incumbency. Congress doesn’t have the public mandate.  It will be a historic win for the BJP.” said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Haryana results

Jammu Kashmir Exit Poll: Pink polling stations during third phase of Jammu and Kashmir polls
Pink polling stations specifically designed to attract women voters were introduced by election officers in the third and final phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir.

Haryana Elections 2024 Exit Poll: Haryana groom halts at polling booth first, then heads for wedding

A groombecame the centre of attraction at a polling booth in Kurukshetra on Saturday as he reached there to cast his vote before reaching his wedding venue. “I want to give a message to all that casting votes is very important. Nobody should waste a vote,” Sunil Kumar said after voting at the polling booth in the Ladwa assembly seat.

Exit Poll Election Results: Candidates, supporters guard EVM strong rooms ahead of counting

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, candidates and their supporters of every party have been camping outside the EVM strong rooms ahead of counting of votes. Counting of votes of 90 assembly segments across Jammu and Kashmir will take place on October 8.

Exit Poll Results 2024: 49.13% voter turnout in Haryana till 3 pm
A 49.13 percent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in Haryana, the Election Commission of India said. Yamunanagar was leading with the highest voting percentage of 56.79 percent followed by Mewat with 56.59 percent, Palwal with 56.02 percent and Jind with 53.94 percent while the lowest voter turnout is recorded in Gurugram with 38.61 percent, it said.