The Haryana Legislative Assembly witnessed high drama and repeated disruptions as Congress leaders protested against the recent Rajya Sabha elections. The party accused the ruling side of “murdering democracy” after cross-voting and invalid votes affected the election results.
The protest led to chaos inside the House, forcing the Speaker to take strict action. Eight Congress MLAs were named for continuous sloganeering and ignoring warnings. Soon after this, the opposition members staged a walkout, bringing normal proceedings to a halt.
The controversy started after the results of the Rajya Sabha elections were announced. While BJP candidate Sanjay Bhatia and Congress candidate Karamvir Singh Boudh won the two seats, the process was surrounded by allegations and tension.
During the session, Congress members raised slogans and interrupted the proceedings. They demanded a discussion on the Rajya Sabha elections, claiming that the voting process was unfair and lacked transparency.
Speaker Harvinder Kalyan repeatedly asked the members to maintain order and allow the House to function. However, the opposition did not agree and continued their protest.
At around 2 pm, the situation became more serious when Congress MLAs again started shouting slogans during a discussion on budget matters. The Speaker warned them several times, saying that the Rajya Sabha elections were not under the direct control of the Assembly.
When the protests did not stop, the Speaker took action and named eight Congress MLAs. These included Vikas Saharan, Jassi Petwar, Balram Dangi, Induraj Singh Narwal, Devender Hans, Shakuntala Khatak, Mandeep Chatha, and Balwan Singh Daulatpuria.
Naming of MLAs is a disciplinary step that can lead to suspension from the House. After this action, Congress members decided to walk out of the Assembly in protest.
Senior Congress leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Raghuvir Singh Kadian, strongly criticised the ruling government. Hooda said that democracy had been harmed and accused the government of unfair practices.
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The main issue behind the protest was the Rajya Sabha election held earlier. The results were declared after a long delay and late-night counting. The election saw cross-voting and disputes over vote secrecy.
BJP candidate Sanjay Bhatia secured 39 first-preference votes and won comfortably. Congress candidate Karamvir Singh Boudh won the second seat with 28 votes. However, BJP-backed Independent candidate Satish Nandal lost the contest.
The counting process became controversial when both sides complained to the Election Commission about violations of voting rules. As a result, five votes were declared invalid. Out of these, four belonged to Congress MLAs and one to the BJP.
One Congress MLA’s vote was specifically cancelled after a complaint by the BJP. This further increased tension between the two parties.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticised the Congress for its internal issues. He said that the party did not trust its own MLAs, pointing out that they had moved their legislators to another state before the voting.
Saini also accused the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) of indirectly supporting Congress by not participating in the voting process. His comments added to the political tension in the state.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders admitted that some MLAs may have cross-voted. Party officials said that strict action would be taken against those found responsible.
Later in the Assembly, cabinet minister Krishan Kumar Bedi accused Congress members of behaving irresponsibly. He also claimed that he had received threats from opposition leaders.
Bedi moved a censure motion against Congress for disrupting the House. The motion criticised the party’s conduct and was passed by voice vote, as Congress members had already walked out.
The incident highlights the growing political conflict in Haryana. Disputes over elections, voting processes, and party discipline have led to repeated confrontations between the ruling party and the opposition.
Such disruptions also affect the normal functioning of the Assembly, where important discussions on public issues and policies are supposed to take place.
In conclusion, the Rajya Sabha election controversy has created serious political tension in Haryana. The protests, walkout, and allegations from both sides show deep divisions between parties.
The coming days may see further action by political parties, especially regarding cross-voting MLAs. The situation also raises questions about transparency and trust in the electoral process.
As the political battle continues, the focus will remain on how leaders address these issues and ensure that democratic institutions function smoothly.
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