Haryana Congress Submits Memorandum to Governor Demanding Action Against Returning Officer
Chandigarh: The Haryana Congress, led by opposition leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, submitted a formal memorandum to Governor Prof Ashim Kumar Ghosh on Thursday, demanding immediate action against the returning officer who oversaw the contentious Rajya Sabha election. The delegation accused the officer of playing a biased and partisan role, which they claim undermined the electoral process.
Allegations of Electoral Malpractice and Institutional Bias
The memorandum detailed that the Haryana Legislative Assembly comprises 90 members, with the BJP holding 48 seats, Congress 37, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) 2, and independents 3. To secure one Rajya Sabha seat, a minimum of 31 votes was required. Under normal circumstances, both the BJP and Congress were positioned to win one seat each. However, the BJP fielded its own vice-president, Satish Nandal, as an independent candidate—a move supported by seven BJP MLAs who acted as proposers.
The Congress delegation labeled this strategy as a "clear instance of political horse-trading, inducement, intimidation, institutional pressure, and misuse of government machinery." They argued that this maneuver was designed to manipulate the election outcome unfairly.
Specific Complaints Against Returning Officer Pankaj Agarwal
The memorandum specifically targeted returning officer Pankaj Agarwal, alleging that he:
- Declared valid votes cast by Congress MLAs as invalid.
- Accepted votes cast in favor of the BJP and the independent candidate without proper scrutiny.
- Deliberately disregarded all objections raised by Congress vote-counting agents during the process.
As a result, the Congress has also lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India, seeking an investigation into these alleged irregularities.
Congress Demands Inquiry and Highlights Democratic Concerns
In their memorandum, the Congress requested the Governor to order a thorough inquiry into the conduct of returning officer Pankaj Agarwal. Bhupinder Singh Hooda emphasized, "This incident not only undermines the dignity of the legislative assembly but also raises serious questions regarding the credibility of democracy across the entire nation. The Congress, standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of the state, will continue its struggle against this anti-democratic conspiracy."
The Governor has taken cognizance of the matter and assured appropriate action, according to Hooda's statement.
Press Conference and Historical Context Provided by Congress MLAs
Following the submission, Hooda and party MLAs addressed a press conference to elaborate on their concerns. Party MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra asserted that the third candidate was fielded with the sole intention of rigging the election. "Satish Nandal is the vice-president of the BJP; yet, despite this fact, he was designated as an independent candidate," Batra stated, highlighting what he viewed as a contradiction.
Party MLA Ashok Arora provided historical context, noting that during the Congress government's tenure in Haryana, two Rajya Sabha elections were held. "Based on the numerical strength of the parties, the Congress could have secured the victory of one candidate, and the INLD (which was in the opposition at the time) could have secured the victory of another," he explained. However, unlike the BJP, the Congress did not field a second candidate on those occasions. "This is precisely what constitutes respect for the norms of democracy," Arora concluded, contrasting past practices with the current allegations.
The controversy continues to unfold as political tensions rise in Haryana, with the Congress vowing to persist in its efforts to uphold democratic integrity.
