The Congress on Thursday (April 16) expelled five of its MLAs in Haryana from the party’s primary membership with immediate effect, citing cross-voting during last month’s Rajya Sabha elections. The decision follows allegations that these legislators backed a BJP-supported Independent candidate instead of the party’s official nominee, triggering disciplinary action from the leadership.

Haryana Congress president Rao Narender Singh confirmed the suspension of Shalley Chaudhary from Naraingarh, Renu Bala from Sadhaura, Jarnail Singh from Ratia, Mohammad Ilyas from Punhana and Mohammad Israil from Hathin. According to him, the action was taken for anti-party activities and a clear violation of party discipline during a crucial election.

The move came after a recommendation from the state disciplinary committee. It was later approved by All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge, making the expulsion official. The leadership treated the matter seriously, viewing the alleged cross-voting as a direct challenge to the party’s collective stand.

The controversy stems from the Rajya Sabha elections held on March 16. The five MLAs are accused of voting in favour of Independent candidate Satish Nandal, who was supported by the BJP. This was in contrast to the Congress directive to support its own candidate, Karamvir Singh Boudh. The deviation from the party line raised concerns within the organisation about internal discipline and loyalty.

Reacting to the development, Rao Narender Singh described the incident as a case of "serious indiscipline" that violated organisational norms. He added that the decision sends a clear message that a collective party stand is paramount. The leadership believes that strict action was necessary to maintain unity and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The cross-voting had significant implications for the election outcome. In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, 88 votes were cast. Among these, five Congress MLAs reportedly marked Satish Nandal as their first preference. Additionally, four Congress votes were declared invalid, which further weakened the party’s position. Despite this setback, Karamvir Singh Boudh managed to win the seat with 28 votes.

The margin of victory was extremely narrow. If even one more Congress legislator had defected, Boudh’s vote count would have dropped to 27. This could have allowed Satish Nandal to gain an advantage through surplus vote transfers from the BJP candidate Sanjay Bhatia, who secured his seat comfortably. The situation highlighted how a small shift in numbers could have changed the final result.

The political arithmetic in the Haryana Assembly also played a key role in the contest. The BJP currently holds 48 seats, while the Congress has 37. During the election, three Independent MLAs extended their support to Nandal. At the same time, two legislators from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chose to abstain from voting. These dynamics made the tight contest complex.

The Congress leadership now hopes that the expulsions will reinforce discipline within the party ranks. The incident has also exposed internal challenges faced by the party in Haryana, especially in maintaining cohesion during high-stakes elections. By taking swift action, the party aims to send a strong signal ahead of future political battles.