Daijiworld Media Network – Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Apr 16: The Indian National Congress has suspended five of its MLAs in Haryana from the party’s primary membership with immediate effect over alleged cross-voting in the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections.
The action was taken following recommendations of the state disciplinary committee and approval by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The suspended legislators include Shalley Chaudhary, Renu Bala, Jarnail Singh, Mohammad Israil, and Mohammad Ilyas. They are accused of voting in favour of BJP-backed Independent candidate Satish Nandal instead of the party’s official nominee Karamvir Singh Boudh.
According to party sources, the disciplinary panel, headed by Dharampal Malik, examined responses to show-cause notices before recommending strict action. While Chaudhary, Bala, and Singh denied the allegations and claimed they had voted for the party candidate, Israil and Ilyas reportedly did not respond to the notices.
Haryana Congress president Rao Narender Singh termed the issue as “serious indiscipline” and said the decision sends a strong message that party discipline must be upheld.
In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party holds 48 seats, while the Congress has 37. During the Rajya Sabha polls, three Independent MLAs supported Nandal, while two legislators from the Indian National Lok Dal abstained from voting.
The development underscores internal challenges within the Congress in Haryana, particularly amid closely contested political scenarios.