'A motivated campaign against me': MLA Renu Bala replies to Congress' show-cause notice
Now, 3 out of 5 Congress MLAs have responded to show-cause notices issued allegedly for cross-voting in the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections
With Sadhaura MLA Renu Bala also submitting a reply to the Congress’ show-cause notice on Friday, now three out of five MLAs have submitted their replies after allegations of cross-voting against them surfaced in the March 16 Rajya Sabha polls.
Bala submitted her reply on March 27, while Naraingarh MLA Shalley Chaudhary and Ratia MLA Jarnail Singh had responded on March 26.
Bala said that she had voted for Congress candidate Karamvir Singh Boudh as the party instructed. She said that she had even showed her ballot paper to Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda who was authorised to see the ballot papers. She added that it was a motivated campaign against her and she was being unnecessarily blamed for cross-voting, whereas the truth was otherwise. Sources informed that even Shalley Chaudhary and Jarnail Singh had replied in similar terms, stating that they had shown their votes to Hooda and that it was wrong to attribute cross-voting to them.
Two others, Punahana MLA Mohammad Ilyas and Hatin MLA Mohd Israil, haven’t yet responded.
Speaking at a function in his constituency on Thursday, Israil had said the public would decide whether he would contest in 2029 and from which party. “Whatever I had done, it was for your development and your children. I have no selfish motive. I had taken the decision for your respect and not for any asset.”
He even said, “The government belongs to all. One thing is important: that you should be respected in the next four years. Your work will be done. There will be development.”
Five-time MLA Mohammad Ilyas had met CM Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday.
The notices, dated March 20, to all five MLAs said cross-voting by them “appears to be a deliberate attempt to defeat the party's official candidate and constitutes a serious breach of party discipline. Such conduct amounts to anti-party activities and undermines the unity, integrity and ideological commitments of the party. It is also in clear violation of the party constitution, rules and established norms.”
They were asked to reply within seven days.
There is an open ballot system in Rajya Sabha polls. An elected MLA doesn’t face any disqualification from the membership of the House for voting in a particular manner under anti-defection law, but he may at the most attract action from the political party to which he belongs as he has to show his ballot to an authorised agent.
