Surjewala slams EC for “lame-duck excuses”

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala—expressing the mounting frustration of his party and others—has hit out at the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing the body of shielding “voter fraud” behind what he called “lame duck excuses.” The attack comes after the Haryana Chief Electoral Officer requested Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to back up his claims about anomalies in the electoral rolls with a formal affidavit. Surjewala’s fiery rebuttal, shared on social media, argues the ECI is using procedural technicalities to dodge scrutiny and is failing its constitutional duty.

onewalling and obfuscation,” warning that such behavior corrodes democracy and amounts to a “crime” against the foundational principles of fair elections. Surjewala said the excuses lack substance and do not absolve the Commission’s failure to respond transparently to serious concerns.

Surjewala’s criticism follows Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that the Congress lost the Haryana Assembly elections by a narrow margin of 22,779 votes, a result he claims was influenced by mass manipulation of voter rolls. He demanded details about voters wrongly added or removed and questioned the ECI’s reluctance to provide full transparency

While the ECI has called for documentation from Gandhi or an apology for making unsubstantiated public claims, the opposition’s distrust is deepening. The EC has meanwhile extended invitations for formal dialogue, including a meeting with Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, signaling that institutional channels are still open for discussion.

This clash comes amid broader unrest. Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by MPs from the INDIA bloc, has staged protests and demanded the release of electoral data and CCTV footage—accusations the EC has dismissed as baseless.

seasoned Congress voice decrying not mere administrative oversight but an intentional suppression of truth. Surjewala’s accusation that the election authority is seeking refuge in “puerile legalese and fake technicalities” paints a picture of a Commission that, in the opposition’s eyes, may be complicit in undermining electoral integrity.

In response, the Election Commission has maintained that officials remain committed to impartiality and urged all stakeholders to approach the matter through proper legal and procedural channels. Still, the growing rift highlights a moment of intense scrutiny and raises urgent questions about the robustness of India’s democratic safeguards.