Chandigarh, Apr 16 (PTI) The opposition Congress in Haryana on Thursday suspended five of its MLAs from the party’s primary membership with immediate effect for allegedly cross-voting during last month’s Rajya Sabha elections.
Taking serious note of the violation of organisational discipline, the party has suspended the five MLAs from the primary membership of the party for anti-party activities, State Congress chief Rao Narender Singh said.
He said the action has been taken after the recommendation of the State Disciplinary Committee and the approval of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The party had earlier named five legislators– Naraingarh MLA Shalli Chaudhary, Sadhaura MLA Renu Bala, Punhana MLA Mohammad Illyas, Hathin MLA Mohammad Israil and Ratia legislator Jarnail Singh for defying the official line.
Haryana Congress’ Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) had recently recommended suspension of the five MLAs.
The committee’s chairman, Dharampal Malik, had earlier said the panel prepared a report and conveyed its decision to the party leadership concerning the issue of alleged cross-voting by five party MLAs in favour of BJP-backed Independent candidate Satish Nandal.
The committee had recommended suspension of the legislators.
The DAC examined the responses to show-cause notices issued to the legislators.
Earlier, the Congress issued a show-cause notice to its five legislators from Haryana for alleged cross-voting.
The showcause was served for “anti-party activities by deliberately not casting a vote in favour of Congress’s official candidate…”.
Polling for the two Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana was held on March 16.
BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia won a seat comfortably, while the Congress candidate, Karamvir Singh Boudh, secured the second seat in a close contest against Nandal.
The alleged cross-voting by five Congress MLAs dented the otherwise comfortable position of the party for securing an easy victory. Four of the Congress’ votes were also declared invalid during counting.
MLAs Shalli Chaudhary, Bala and Jarnail Singh had later denied the allegations, saying their names were being dragged into the controversy unnecessarily and maintained that they had voted for the party candidate.
Of the five legislators, Chaudhary, Bala and Jarnail Singh had replied to the show-cause notice. PTI SUN DV DV
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