Turmoil within Haryana Congress over Rajya Sabha cross voting grows

The turmoil within the Haryana unit of Congress in the wake of the alleged cross voting by its five MLAs in the recent Rajya Sabha poll continues to grow with the rising clamour for action against even those legislators whose votes were declared invalid and party’s senior leaders, if any, involved in it.

Two days after the Congress issued show-cause notices to five legislators for cross-voting, which included Hathin MLA Chaudhary Mohd Israil, his son Nazim Chaudhary on Sunday sought action against the four MLAs whose votes were declared invalid. Earlier wrestler-turned politician and party’s Julana MLA Vinesh Phogat and Badli MLA Kuldeep Vats have also made similar demands.

“Five MLAs have cross-voted in Haryana, four votes have been declared invalid. The names of those four have not been made public. I think their names should also come out in the open. An MLA is imparted proper training to vote in a Rajya Sabha election. These mistakes (casting invalid votes) are intentional. I think action must be initiated against all nine MLAs. Action must be initiated against my father as well. My father is also involved,” he told news agency ANI, announcing that he had severed all ties with his father and uncle, a senior police officer, for their alleged involvement in it.

Referring to the previous occasions when Congress’ Rajya Sabha candidates in Haryana lost despite the party having the requisite numbers, Mr. Chaudhary said: “Even if some big leaders are involved in it, action should be taken against them as well. It’s completely overdone now. It is happening for the third time.”

Besides Mr. Israil, the party has also issued show-cause notices to Muhammad Ilyas, Renu Bala, Shalley Chaudhary and Jarnail Singh in this connection.

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda visiting Mr. Vats at his residence on Sunday, in a reply to a question, said the four Congress votes “forcibly” declared invalid. Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Rao Narender Singh, however, told The Hindu over phone that action would also be initiated against those whose votes were declared invalid if the party came across any strong evidence against them.

Seeking action against those whose votes had been declared invalid, Ms. Phogat, in a post on “X” on March 18, wrote: “Whether the votes were crossed or cancelled, the intention was the same in both cases— this is for the party to decide. Nothing happens without reason in such situations; there should be no ifs or buts, and the party should take action with this mindset.”

With two more Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana set to fall vacant in 2028, the party’s high command seems to be treading with caution on any action against the party MLAs avoiding any rash action that could spoil the party’s prospects in the upcoming Upper House election.