BJP, Congress Split Haryana Rajya Sabha Seats Amid Cross-Voting Row

Chandigarh, March 2026 : The elections for two seats in the Rajya Sabha in Haryana saw the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Indian National Congress secure one seat each, amid allegations of cross-voting and violations of ballot secrecy.

The BJP’s Sanjay Bhatia and Congress candidate Karamvir Baudh emerged victorious, while BJP-backed Independent candidate Satish Nandal lost the contest. A total of 88 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) cast their votes in the election.

Two MLAs from the Indian National Lok Dal—Arjun Chautala and Aditya Devi Lal—abstained from voting, which also influenced the final outcome.

The polling process was marked by controversy, with both major parties raising complaints. The Congress accused state Transport Minister Anil Vij of violating election norms, particularly those related to voting secrecy. Meanwhile, the BJP also flagged concerns regarding the conduct of some Congress legislators during voting.

Nayab Singh Saini cast the first vote of the day, setting the stage for a closely watched contest. After the results were declared, senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda hailed his party’s performance, calling it a significant victory.

“This is our victory,” Hooda told reporters, emphasising that the Congress had successfully secured one of the two seats despite political challenges.

In the run-up to the elections, the Congress had taken precautionary measures to prevent cross-voting within its ranks. With 37 MLAs in the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the party moved a majority of its legislators to resorts and hotels in Himachal Pradesh.

However, six MLAs did not travel due to personal reasons. On Sunday night, 31 Congress MLAs were shifted from Shimla to Kasauli. The next morning, they were brought back to Chandigarh under tight security arrangements.

The movement of MLAs was supervised by senior party leaders, including Congress General Secretary B.K. Hariprasad and Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda.

The election outcome reflects a divided political landscape in Haryana, with both the BJP and Congress managing to secure equal representation in this round of Rajya Sabha polls, even as questions over voting practices and internal party discipline continue to surface.