Bhupesh Baghel backs Rahul Gandhi’s claim of vote rigging, calls Haryana results ‘pre-planned’

By A Staff Reporter

Raipur: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has backed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s claims that the Haryana Assembly elections were rigged, alleging that the results appeared “pre-planned” and undermined the democratic process.

“In the opinion polls, exit polls, and even the ballot paper poll, we were shown winning 64 out of 90 seats (in Chhattisgarh). In Haryana, we were projected to win 73–74 seats. But after 1 o’clock, we started losing,” Baghel said.

He further claimed that BJP leader Raman Singh’s statement on counting day raised suspicion. “On the day of counting, Raman Singh said, ‘We are winning 54–55 seats.’ Before that, neither he nor any BJP leader had made such a statement. It was only on that day, which raised doubts about how he knew the exact numbers,” Baghel added.

Calling the development “an attack on democracy and an insult to the voter’s mandate,” the Congress leader warned that such actions “weaken democracy itself.”