2 months ago
4
The Haryana Congress connected Monday gave a practice to the Election Commission of India (EC) regarding alleged illegalities successful the behaviour of Rajya Sabha predetermination for 2 seats successful the State recently, accusing the Returning Officer, Pankaj Aggarwal, of conducting himself successful a “totally amerciable and partial manner” and seeking a probe into his alleged misconduct.
‘Count rejected votes’
Demanding that each 4 illegally rejected votes beryllium counted successful the relationship of the party’s Rajya Sabha campaigner Karamvir Singh Boudh, the missive said the Returning Officer “arbitrarily and illegally rejected the votes formed by definite MLAs belonging to the Indian National Congress successful evident usurpation of the prescribed process for acceptance and rejection of ballot papers nether the applicable rules”.
After precocious governmental play astir midnight connected March 16, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Sanjay Bhatia and Mr. Boudh were elected to the Rajya Sabha. However, with Mr. Boudh lone managing to unafraid 28 votes and winning by conscionable 1 ballot contempt 37 MLAs successful the Assembly, what looked similar an casual triumph for Congress turned into a nail-biting finish. Five enactment MLAs cross-voted for autarkic Satish Nandal, portion 4 Congress ballots were declared invalid during counting. Officials said 5 votes were declared invalid – 4 of the Congress and 1 of the BJP.
The five-page practice connected Monday was signed by erstwhile Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, on with the State president Rao Narender Singh, Mr. Boudh and 2 MLAs.
Referring to the lawsuit of MLA Paramvir Singh, whose ballot was declared invalid connected the crushed of usurpation of secrecy, the missive pointed retired that “he did not interruption secrecy and did not amusement his ballot to anyone but the authorised cause of the INC”.
The missive besides accused the Returning Officer of illegality successful the counting process, disregard of valid objections and electoral misconduct.
In an enactment with the media persons pursuing a Congress Legislature Party gathering successful Delhi earlier successful the day, Mr. Hooda said the enactment would adjacent determination the Punjab and Haryana High Court successful this transportation if required. “Our votes were valid. They were forcibly declared invalid,” maintained Mr. Hooda, successful reply to a question connected the enactment against the MLAs casting invalid votes.
Notice to MLAs
On the 5 MLAs who person been served show-cause notices by the enactment for alleged cross-voting, Mr. Rao Narender Singh said the substance was nether the information of the party’s State disciplinary committee. “The disciplinary committee is gathering connected April 3 to perceive the 5 MLAs’ broadside of the story. After that, they volition nonstop their recommendations to the enactment precocious command, and a last determination volition beryllium made later,” helium said.
Three of the 5 MLAs person replied to the show-cause notice.
