Haryana Congress cross-voting inquiry: DAC to report on five MLAs in Rajya Sabha election

The Haryana Congress Disciplinary Action Committee, chaired by Dharampal Malik, met to review allegations that five party MLAs cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election. The panel will prepare a report and send its decision to the party high command. The case relates to voting linked to Independent candidate Satish Nandal and the party’s show-cause notices.

The Haryana Congress Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) is preparing a report on alleged cross-voting by five party MLAs. The issue relates to the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana. The committee said its findings will be sent to the party high command. The high command is expected to decide the next steps after receiving it.

The DAC met on Friday evening at the Haryana Congress office under chairperson Dharampal Malik. The meeting focused on claims that five MLAs voted against the party line. The Congress had earlier served show-cause notices to these legislators. The notices cited anti-party activity for not voting for the Congress’s official candidate.

Haryana Congress Rajya Sabha voting and alleged cross-voting

Polling for two Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana was held on March 16. BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia won one seat with ease. Congress candidate Karamvir Singh Boudh won the second seat narrowly. The contest was against BJP-backed Independent candidate Satish Nandal. The alleged cross-voting affected what was seen as a safer position.

During counting, four Congress votes were declared invalid. The party then flagged possible defiance by five MLAs. The names were Naraingarh MLA Shalli Chaudhary and Sadhaura MLA Renu Bala. Punhana MLA Mohammad Illyas and Hathin MLA Mohammad Israil were also listed. Ratia legislator Jarnail Singh was the fifth lawmaker named.

Haryana Congress show-cause notices and DAC replies

Shalli Chaudhary, Renu Bala and Jarnail Singh later rejected the claims in public statements. They said the controversy wrongly included their names. They also said they had voted for the party candidate. Their denials came after the Congress issued show-cause notices. The notices alleged deliberate non-support for the official nominee.

"Only Chaudhary, Bala and Jarnail Singh replied to the showcause notice, the DAC chairman Dharmapal Malik told mediapersons after chairing a meeting of the committee here on Friday.\"

\"Malik said Chaudhary and Bala had requested that the DAC be given a personal hearing with them on Friday. They came, and we listened to what they had to say, he said.\"

\"Then, referring to the entire matter of alleged cross-voting by the five legislators, Malik said, The DAC will finalise its report by tomorrow and convey the decision to the party high command, which will decide on further course of action.\"

\"Asked that the two MLAs have not replied to the showcause notice, Malik said this means they have admitted the allegations against them.\"

Haryana Congress reaction from Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda also commented on the allegations. Hooda said the five legislators accused of cross-voting should resign on moral grounds. The former chief minister framed it as a breach of public trust. Hooda said the matter went beyond party discipline. Hooda said voters were the ones let down by such actions.

The DAC is now expected to complete its report and forward it to the Congress leadership. The review centres on the voting during the Rajya Sabha election and related notices. Statements made to the committee, and the replies received, form part of the record. Any further action is expected to depend on the high command’s decision.

With inputs from PTI