According to sources in the poll panel, the election cannot be cancelled once results are declared.
“Given that results have been declared for biennial election in Haryana, it’s not possible to cancel and hold a fresh election. The poll panel takes action on the basis of reports submitted by returning officer (RO) as RO certifies whether any rigging has taken place or not,” a source said.
Adding further, the sources said, “In case of Haryana, RO RK Nandal has asserted that the election to the two Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana on Saturday was conducted “properly” under video surveillance and the state poll machinery can provide evidence if either the ECI or the High Court seek it.” Supporting the EC views, experts have said that once the polls are over and results are declared, the only course open to aggrieved parties was to file an election petition as the Commission has little role to play.
However, the EC on Monday sought a report from the RO in the Rajya Sabha polls after the Congress alleged misuse of state machinery to defeat RK Anand, a candidate backed by it, and demanded cancellation of the election. Based on the report from the RO, the Commission will take a decision on the future course of action, sources said.
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which had originally backed Anand, had alleged that the Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister BS Hooda and the BJP were “responsible” for the 14 votes of party MLAs being declared invalid in Saturday’s Rajya Sabha election, leading to the victory of BJP-supported independent candidate Subhash Chandra.