Haryana Congress suspends 5 MLAs for cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Congress on Thursday suspended five MLAs for cross-voting in favour of BJP candidate in last month's Rajya Sabha elections.

While three of them - Shalley Chaudhary, Renu Bala and Jarnail Singh - had denied voting for BJP and reiterated their loyalty for Congress, Mohammad Iliyas and Mohammad Israil had struck a defiant stand, with Iliyas even meeting Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar and CM Nayab Singh Saini, sparking speculation that he might switch to the saffron camp.

Chaudhary is MLA from Naraingarh, Bala from Sadhaura (reserved), Jarnail from Ratia (reserved), Israil from Hathin, and Iliyas from Punhana.

"Those indulging in indiscipline have no place in the party. We shall ensure that each and every member of the party adheres to discipline," said Haryana Congress president Rao Narender Singh after issuing the suspension order.

Leader of opposition and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda said, "We recommended their suspension, and the party high command approved. This will send out a strong message to the cadre."

Haryana Congress Committee and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) are expected to inform the assembly secretariat about the suspensions.

"Since there is no whip in Rajya Sabha elections, there is no risk to their membership. They will continue to be MLAs and, if they wish, they could be allocated seats adjacent to the CLP seating arrangements," a Haryana Assembly expert said.

Efforts to reach out to Israil, Bala and Jarnail failed but Chaudhary's husband Ram Kishan Gujjar expressed ignorance.

"We have not received any official communication. We can give a reaction only after we receive formal communication from the party,'' said Gujjar said. He had stepped down as working president of Haryana Congress after his wife's name had cropped up among the cross-voters. The kin of Iliyas said he was in hospital.

Congress candidate Karamvir Singh Baudh won the March 16 election by the narrowest of margins as the party lost nine votes - five to cross-voting and four invalidated. Had only one more Congress vote been lost, BJP-backed independent Satish Nandal would have pulled off a stunner.

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