New Delhi/Bengaluru: The Congress will approach the Election Commission on Monday to protest against the “misuse of government machinery” in the Rajya Sabha elections for two seats in Haryana on Saturday which led to independent candidate R.K. Anand, backed by the party, losing the poll.
Party general secretary B.K. Hariprasad said they will approach the EC and demand countermanding of election to both Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana.
Asked whether the party suspected internal sabotage in the elections including by former chief minister B.S. Hooda, he replied in the negative.
Mr Hariprasad alleged that there was deliberate fraud in the election by switching the pen meant for marking the votes so as to make the Congress votes invalid. The votes of 14 Congress MLAs were declared invalid leading to the loss of Mr Anand who was otherwise expected to win. On his part, Mr Hooda said there has been a “big conspiracy” and the truth should come out.
In Bengaluru, cracking the whip, the JD(S) suspended its eight rebel MLAs who voted against its official candidate and supported the Congress in the biennial elections to fill four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka.
Caught off guard by the open defiance of rebels, a red-faced JD(S) leadership also issued a notice asking them why they should not be expelled from the party for defying the party whip, which saw the party candidate, businessman B.M. Farooq, securing 33 votes against the party strength of 40.
Meanwhile, in Lucknow, the BJP suspended its MLA from Gorakhpur Rural Vijay Bahadur Yadav for cross voting during Rajya Sabha biennial polls.
“MLA Vijay Bahadur Yadav has been suspended by the party from Legislature group for cross-voting during Rajya Sabha elections,” an official release said here.
“I have recommended the state unit chief to take action against Yadav as his act comes under voluntary anti-defection law,” Leader of BJP in UP Assembly Suresh Khanna said.
The MLA had cross-voted in favour of a SP candidate on Saturday. “I voted on the basis of development done by the Chief Minister and I am ready to make any sacrifice,” he said.
