Haryana Cong suspends 5 MLAs for cross-voting in RS polls 

The Haryana Congress suspended five MLAs for alleged cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections, citing serious indiscipline. Acting on disciplinary committee recommendations, the party stressed strict action against anti-party activity to reinforce organisational discipline and unity within its ranks.

Chandigarh: The opposition Congress in Haryana on Thursday suspended five of its MLAs from the party’s primary membership with immediate effect for allegedly cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections last month.

The party had earlier named Naraingarh MLA Shalli Chaudhary, Sadhaura MLA Renu Bala, Punhana MLA Mohammad Illyas, Hathin MLA Mohammad Israil and Ratia legislator Jarnail Singh for defying the official line.

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Taking serious note of the violation of organisational discipline, the Congress has suspended the five MLAs from the primary membership of the party for anti-party activities, Haryana Congress chief Rao Narender Singh said.

He said the action was taken after the recommendation of the State Disciplinary Committee and the approval of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Haryana Congress’ Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) had recently recommended the suspension of the five MLAs.

According to a party statement, Singh said the five MLAs showed serious indiscipline by voting against the party’s official candidate during the recently held Rajya Sabha elections, which is against the organisational norms.

The Haryana Congress chief further stated that discipline is paramount in the party and that indiscipline at any level will not be tolerated. He also stated that this decision sends a clear message to all leaders and workers that any activity contrary to the party’s collective decisions and authorised stance will be met with strict action.

Earlier, DAC chairman Dharampal Malik had said the panel prepared a report and conveyed its decision to the party leadership concerning the issue of alleged cross-voting by five party MLAs in favour of BJP-backed Independent candidate Satish Nandal. The committee had recommended the suspension of the legislators. The DAC examined the responses to show cause notices issued to the legislators.
Polling for two Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana was held on March 16.

BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia won the seat comfortably, while Congress candidate Karamvir Singh Boudh secured the second seat in a close contest against Nandal.

The alleged cross-voting by five Congress MLAs dented the party’s otherwise comfortable position. Four of the Congress’ votes were also declared invalid during counting.

Earlier, the Congress issued a show-cause notice to its five legislators for “anti-party activities by deliberately not casting a vote in favour of Congress’ official candidate…”. Of the five MLAs, Shalli Chaudhary, Renu Bala and Jarnail Singh had replied to the notice and denied the allegations, saying their names were being unnecessarily dragged into the controversy and maintained that they had voted for the party candidate.