Haryana: Following the Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana, internal dissent within the Congress party has intensified, with senior leaders openly questioning the state leadership over cross-voting by MLAs.
Senior Leaders Demand Accountability
Former Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma emphasized that the Haryana Congress leadership must be held accountable for the cross-voting incident. Nine out of 37 MLAs reportedly deviated from the party line, raising concerns not only about the MLAs but also about the functioning of the state leadership. Former MLA Shamsher Singh Gogi echoed similar concerns, questioning the party’s electoral management and decision-making process.
Praise for Rahul Gandhi, Criticism of Nepotism
Kuldeep Sharma lauded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for nominating Karmaveer Bauddh, a Dalit candidate, to the Rajya Sabha, stating that the decision was in the party’s broader interest. He alleged that some Haryana leaders tried to push the election in favor of their relatives, but Rahul Gandhi’s choice successfully prevented disruption of party equations.
Discontent Among MLAs
Sharma highlighted growing dissatisfaction among party MLAs, noting that many feel ignored and poorly treated when meeting the leadership. He stressed the importance of addressing their grievances to prevent further deviation from the party line.
Concerns Over Concentration of Power
The former Speaker also questioned whether Haryana Congress politics was being dominated by a single family, advocating for greater participation from other leaders and families. He urged the party high command to assess the state leadership critically and ensure proper functioning.
Symbolic Criticism of Leadership
Sharma concluded his remarks with a pointed couplet: “Don’t talk about this and that, tell me why the convoy was looted. We don’t regret the robbery, it was a question of your leadership,” implying that strong leadership could have prevented the cross-voting issue.
Candidate Won, But Party Lost
Shamsher Singh Gogi added that while the Congress candidate secured victory, the party lost credibility due to nine problematic votes—five cross-votes and four rejected ballots—underscoring the need for introspection within the Haryana unit.
The recent Rajya Sabha elections have thus triggered a debate over leadership, accountability, and internal democracy within the Haryana Congress, highlighting the challenges the party faces ahead of upcoming state-level contests.