Karnal, March 18:- Addressing a public rally held in Indri—a town within the district—Congress leader Deepender Hooda accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of employing unethical tactics during the Rajya Sabha elections. He alleged that throughout the election process, attempts were made to influence Congress MLAs, and that strategies involving cross-voting, horse-trading, and pressure politics were utilized. Present at the rally on this occasion were several local leaders and party workers, including Lahri Singh, Rakesh Kamboj, former State General Secretary of the Congress Ramesh Saini, Surjit Saini, and Congress District President Parag Gaba. Speaking to the media, Hooda revealed that five Congress MLAs have been identified as having engaged in cross-voting. The names of all these individuals have been forwarded to the party leadership, and disciplinary action against them is expected to be initiated shortly. He indicated that the names of these MLAs would be made public gradually.
Hooda further alleged that the BJP had hatched a premeditated conspiracy to ensure the defeat of the Congress candidate, Karamvir Baudh. He asserted that power was misused to obstruct a candidate hailing from a humble background—an act that stands in direct opposition to democratic principles.
He stated that during the election, every conceivable tactic—encompassing persuasion, bribery, coercion, and division (*Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed*)—was employed. According to him, nearly every MLA was approached by the BJP and offered inducements; where such offers failed to yield results, recourse was taken to pressure and intimidation. Particular pressure, he noted, was exerted upon those MLAs who already had legal cases registered against them.
Regarding the vote cast by Paramvir, Hooda contended that it was erroneously declared invalid, despite being entirely legitimate. He demanded that the video footage of that specific vote be released to the public so that the truth of the matter could be revealed. He also drew parallels between this incident and the recent Chandigarh Mayoral elections.
Notwithstanding these challenges, Hooda affirmed that—despite facing immense pressure—the Congress candidate, Karamvir Baudh, emerged victorious; a triumph he hailed as a victory for both truth and democracy. He stated that those legislators who stood firmly by the party deserve to be honored, while the public will hold those who committed acts of betrayal accountable.
Commenting on Ramchandra Gurjar's resignation, he noted that Gurjar had stepped down from his post even before the party could initiate disciplinary action. Furthermore, he accused Shelly, the MLA from Naraingarh, of cross-voting and asserted that such leaders should come forward voluntarily and tender their resignations. Meanwhile, taking aim at the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Hooda remarked that the party had repeatedly altered its strategy and ultimately ended up working in favor of the BJP. Labeling the INLD as the BJP's "B-team," he accused the party of sowing confusion during the election.
All in all, the exchange of allegations and counter-allegations surrounding the Rajya Sabha elections has intensified within Haryana's political landscape, and this issue is likely to heat up even further in the days to come.