In an effort to prevent possible cross-voting ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress party in Haryana has moved its legislators out of the state. A total of 37 Congress MLAs were transported on Friday in a convoy that travelled to neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, a state currently governed by the Congress party. The decision is part of a strategy aimed at keeping the party’s lawmakers together and away from external political influence until the day of polling.
The group of legislators departed in two tempo travellers accompanied by several personal vehicles. Their convoy crossed the Parwanoo border before continuing toward Shimla. According to party sources, the MLAs are expected to stay in a secure location in the hill town—likely a hotel or resort—until the Rajya Sabha voting scheduled for March 16.
The move is intended to shield the MLAs from potential attempts by rival political groups to influence their votes during the sensitive period before the election. Cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections can alter the outcome, especially when the margin between competing parties is narrow.
Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, rejected the suggestion that the party’s actions amounted to “resort politics.” However, AICC general secretary and Haryana Congress in-charge BK Hariprasad openly acknowledged that the move was meant to protect the party’s legislators from possible pressure or inducements.
Hariprasad accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting what he described as “vote chori,” or the theft of votes, and alleged that the ruling party was trying to lure Congress MLAs to cross over during the election. He stated that the Congress leadership felt it was necessary to provide security and unity within the party camp until voting concluded. Hariprasad also expressed confidence that all 37 Congress MLAs would remain loyal and support the party’s Rajya Sabha candidate, Karamvir Singh Boudh. He further criticised the BJP for fielding an additional candidate, claiming that the move reflected a political strategy that he characterised as anti-Dalit.
Congress MLA Jassi Petwar also accused the BJP of trying to influence legislators ahead of the election. He claimed that attempts had been made in the past to break opposition parties through financial incentives or political pressure. According to him, however, such efforts would not succeed this time because Congress legislators were united and determined to support their party’s candidate.
Given the possibility of such political manoeuvring in the days leading up to the Rajya Sabha polls, the Congress leadership decided to move the MLAs to Himachal Pradesh, where the state government is led by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu of the Congress party. Some legislators, when asked about the trip, said they had been informed that the gathering would include a training session as well.
The Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana involve two seats, with voting scheduled for March 16. The terms of the current members representing these seats are set to end in April 2026. The BJP, which holds a stronger position in the state assembly with 48 MLAs, has nominated former Member of Parliament Sanjay Bhatia as its candidate and is expected to secure one of the two seats without difficulty.
For the second seat, the Congress has fielded Karamvir Singh Boudh, a Dalit leader. With 37 MLAs in the Haryana Assembly, the Congress has the numbers required to secure the seat if its legislators vote in unity. The party requires at least 31 first-preference votes from its MLAs to ensure Boudh’s victory.
However, the election has become particularly closely watched due to the presence of an Independent candidate, Satish Nandal. Nandal is reportedly backed by the BJP and supported by several Independent legislators, including Savitri Jindal. His candidacy has heightened concerns within the Congress camp that even a small number of cross-votes could influence the outcome of the contest.
Senior Congress leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, have dismissed speculation about divisions within the party. They have repeatedly emphasised that the Congress MLAs remain united and committed to supporting their official candidate.
The decision to move the MLAs out of Haryana was finalised after internal discussions and a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party. According to party sources, the legislators will remain in Himachal Pradesh until the day of voting. On March 16, they are expected to return to Haryana under close supervision in order to cast their ballots in the Rajya Sabha election.
