In a robust reaction to the Election Commission's response to its complaints regarding "irregularities" in the Haryana Assembly elections, the Congress party has accused the poll body of launching personal attacks against its leaders and has threatened legal action if such remarks persist.

In a strongly phrased letter sent on Friday, the Congress asserted that its communications with the Election Commission of India (ECI) focused on specific issues while maintaining respect for the roles of the Chief Election Commissioner and the election commissioners. However, they contended that the Commission's replies came across as condescending. "If the current ECI aims to shed any semblance of neutrality, it is succeeding admirably in that regard," the Congress stated.

The Election Commission, in its reply to the Congress's complaints on Tuesday, criticized the party for making "baseless allegations" following unfavorable electoral outcomes and warned against making "unfounded and sensational claims." The ECI described the Congress's allegations as "irresponsible" and urged the party to avoid what it termed "frivolous complaints," while asserting that the electoral process in Haryana was conducted without any flaws.

The Congress expressed no surprise that the Election Commission cleared itself of wrongdoing, yet highlighted that the "tone and tenor" of the ECI's communication and the accusations against the party necessitated a response.

The letter, signed by prominent Congress figures including KC Venugopal, Ashok Gehlot, and Ajay Maken, emphasized that the Commission's recent communications seem increasingly filled with personal attacks against either party leaders or the Congress itself. The party's messages, they noted, remain focused on issues and respectful of the high office held by the Chief Election Commissioner and his fellow commissioners.

"Conversely, the ECI's responses have adopted a condescending tone. Should the ECI's intention be to fully abandon any last traces of impartiality, it is succeeding remarkably well. Judicial decisions do not belittle the party that raises issues," they remarked. The letter warned that if the ECI continued this behavior, the Congress would have no option but to pursue legal remedies to remove such remarks—citing the ECI's previous unsuccessful attempts to expunge critical comments made by the Madras High Court regarding its handling of political rallies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Congress accused the Election Commission of consistently resisting calls for transparency. They stated that while their complaints regarding the Haryana election were detailed, the ECI's comments were vague and focused on undermining the concerns raised by the party.

In the Haryana elections, which concluded on October 8, the BJP emerged victorious, winning 48 out of 90 seats, while the Congress secured 37. The Congress expressed dissatisfaction with the election results, citing an "unexplained slowdown" in result updates, a claim dismissed by the Election Commission.

Later that day, Congress leaders declared they could not accept the election results, labeling them "totally unexpected" and "completely surprising." Senior leader Jairam Ramesh remarked, "What transpired in Haryana is a triumph of manipulation, undermining the people's will, and a setback for transparency and democratic processes. The narrative surrounding Haryana is far from over."