The Congress party expressed shock and disbelief over the unexpected election results in Haryana, which shifted dramatically from early leads in its favor to a decisive victory for the BJP. Hours after the results began to trickle in, Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission, citing an "unexplained slowdown" in the update of election results.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh voiced concerns, stating that delays in results allow "bad-faith actors" to distort narratives that undermine the election process. He emphasized the party's fear that these narratives could affect ongoing counting in various centers. The Election Commission responded by rejecting the Congress's allegations, clarifying that approximately 25 rounds of updates were being processed every five minutes.

At a press conference, Ramesh described the results as "totally unexpected" and counter to the voters' desire for change. He argued that the outcome indicated manipulation and a failure of democratic processes, stating, "What we have seen today in Haryana is a victory for manipulation, a victory for subverting the will of the people."

Ramesh noted serious complaints regarding the counting process and the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in at least three districts, with more concerns emerging. He asserted that the party would gather evidence to present to the Election Commission in the coming days.

Despite significant losses, including 16 sitting MLAs, Ramesh suggested that the time for introspection would come later but insisted that the immediate priority was addressing what he termed as a "snatched victory." He highlighted that preliminary reports indicated serious issues in the counting process, with many candidates questioning the integrity of the results.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera echoed these sentiments, referencing complaints from several districts about EVMs showing inconsistent battery levels during the vote count. He stated, "This is a victory for the system and a defeat for democracy."

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, whose party defied pre-election predictions, remarked that the BJP would govern for a third consecutive term and predicted that the Congress would attribute its losses to EVMs. He stated, "The public will have their say on October 8, and the Congress will blame the EVMs."

As the Congress party grapples with the unexpected results, its leaders are focused on investigating the electoral process, aiming to ensure that the concerns raised are addressed comprehensively.