Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], March 17 : Congress Candidate from Haryana, Karmeveer Singh Bauddh, who secured a victory in the Rajya Sabha elections, alleged "illegal cancellation of votes" as he thanked the party for thier support.
Speaking to the reporters, Karmeveer Singh Bauddh said, "Votes were illegally cancelled, but I received the blessings of the Congress party and the people. I received love from the Congress's top leadership. I will sit comfortably among you people every day."
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have each won seats in Haryana for the Rajya Sabha elections.
Amid celebrations in both camps, leaders traded accusations, with the Congress blaming the BJP for unethical tactics and the BJP questioning the opposition's ability to keep its legislators together.
BJP winning candidate Sanjay Bhatia, while speaking to ANI, said, "Congress's responsibility was to unite its workers and MLAs, now they are putting allegations on us for the cross-votes of their own workers, which is not right... I was born and brought up in Haryana, and my priority will be the issues of the people here... Congress got 28 votes, the independent received 16 votes with first preference, and BJP received 39 first preference votes..."
On the other hand, Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal, while speaking to ANI, said, "We won the fight we had been fighting for a long time. The way a procession of the constitution and constitutional bodies was being carried out, the democracy finally won. Our candidate, Karamvir Singh Baudh won the seat today... We congratulate our leaders and workers... BJP tried to do horse trading today..."
Haryana Minister Mahipal Dhanda, while talking to the reporters, said, "The independent candidate has the right to seek votes, but Congress have held their workers hostage... BJP candidates won with a huge majority. Independent candidates sought support from us, and we gave... This is an election fought on internal voice, and Congress is killing it in its workers..." He also says, "Sanjay Bhatia (BJP candidate) has won..."
Meanwhile, Haryana Congress President Rao Narendra Singh on Monday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that the Rajya Sabha election process has exposed the ruling party's "anti-Dalit" stance.
Voting for the Rajya Sabha was also halted for hours due to objections to two Congress votes. BJP's Gaurav Gautam and Kishan Bedi have objected to both votes. Congress has also objected to Minister Anil Vij's vote.