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Chandigarh:  Leader of Opposition and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of attempting to manipulate the recent Rajya Sabha election in Haryana, alleging that the ruling party had “no faith in democracy or the public mandate”.

Addressing a press conference, Hooda said the BJP’s decision to field a second candidate despite lacking the required numbers in the Assembly showed that the party was relying on “machinations rather than democratic strength”.

“The BJP has vindicated the allegations made by our leader, Rahul Gandhi, by misusing its power and authority in this election. By fielding a second candidate—the party’s vice-president—despite not having the numbers, the BJP has shown it has no faith in democracy or the mandate of the people,” Hooda said.

Allegations of Misuse of Government Machinery

Hooda alleged that the ruling party used “every possible tactic” to influence the election outcome, including the misuse of government machinery.

“The government machinery was grossly misused. Four valid votes cast by Congress MLAs were arbitrarily declared invalid even though they had been accepted earlier by the Returning Officer,” he claimed.

Congress MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra also alleged that the Returning Officer favoured the BJP. “In an attempt to ensure a BJP victory, the Returning Officer functioned completely like an agent of the BJP. However, both the BJP and the Returning Officer were defeated by the unity of Congress legislators,” he said.

Cross-Voting MLAs Named

Hooda said the names of five Congress MLAs who allegedly cross-voted in the election had been sent to the party high command for action.

“These individuals should voluntarily resign from their MLA posts. Otherwise, the party will initiate disciplinary action against them within the next few hours,” he said, adding that those responsible would face consequences from both the party and voters in their constituencies.

He also rejected social media claims regarding the vote cast by Badli MLA Kuldeep Vats, saying he had personally witnessed Vats voting in favour of the Congress candidate.

Criticism of the Government’s Conduct in the Assembly

Hooda further criticised the state government’s conduct in the Haryana Assembly, alleging that Congress legislators were “named and expelled” when they tried to raise the issue of the Rajya Sabha election in the House.

“The fact that the BJP is avoiding a debate shows that it has something to hide and that it resorted to unethical and undemocratic tactics to win the election,” he said. Hooda also congratulated Congress candidate Karamvir Boudh on his victory, describing it as a win for marginalised communities. “This victory is not just of the candidate but of Dalits, backward classes and the weaker sections of society. By sending a party worker from an ordinary family to the Rajya Sabha, the Congress has once again shown its commitment to representation of all sections,” he said