Chandigarh, April 4
The Haryana Congress Disciplinary Action Committee will submit its report to the party high command against five legislators accused of cross-voting in last month’s Rajya Sabha elections. The committee made a decision after holding a meeting at the Haryana Congress office in Chandigarh on Friday.
The committee, led by Dharampal Malik, met at the Haryana Congress office in Chandigarh on Friday evening. The five MLAs are accused of voting for the BJP-backed Independent candidate, Satish Nandal, instead of the party’s official nominee during the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections. They were served show-cause notices for what the party described as “anti-party activities by deliberately not casting a vote in favour of Congress’ official candidate.”
BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia won one seat easily, while Congress candidate Karamvir Singh Boudh narrowly secured the second seat against Nandal. The party’s position was further weakened when four of its votes were declared invalid during counting.
The accused legislators are Naraingarh MLA Shalli Chaudhary, Sadhaura MLA Renu Bala, Punhana MLA Mohammad Illyas, Hathin MLA Mohammad Israil, and Ratia MLA Jarnail Singh. Chaudhary, Bala, and Singh denied the charges, stating their names were included without justification and that they voted for the party candidate.
Malik stated that only three of the five responded to the show-cause notice. Chaudhary and Bala requested and attended a personal hearing before the committee on Friday. “They came, and we listened to what they had to say,” Malik said.
Malik interpreted the silence of the remaining two, Illyas and Israil, as acceptance of the allegations. “It means they have accepted the allegations against them,” Malik said.
Malik said the panel will now consolidate its findings. “The DAC will finalise its report and convey the decision to the party high command, which will decide on further course of action,” he said.
These proceedings follow a strong public statement by former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who demanded the five accused MLAs resign on moral grounds. Hooda stated the legislators had wronged both the party and their constituents.
The party now awaits the high command’s response to the DAC report, which will determine whether formal punitive action will be taken against any of the five legislators.
