Numbers not on our side, won’t field RS candidate, says Cong

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

With the last date of making a nomination for the Rajya Sabha bypoll from Haryana just two days away, August 21, the Congress has decided not to field any candidate. The party cites a shortage of numbers as the reason. However, former Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala has alleged that there is a collusion between Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the BJP regarding the Rajya Sabha seat.

The seat has fallen vacant as Deepender Hooda got elected to the Lok Sabha from Rohtak on June 4. His tenure was till April 9, 2026.

To win the Rajya Sabha seat, a candidate requires the support of 44 MLAs, as the House is currently reduced to 87 MLAs. With Tosham MLA Kiran Choudhry joining the BJP, the Congress is left with 28 MLAs. Including three Independents who support the party, its strength reaches 31.

Can back anyone who can defeat bjp: hooda

We are not putting up a candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll. JJP MLAs who have resigned have not joined the Congress. It is not clear how they will vote. However, if there is someone who can muster support to defeat the BJP, we are ready to back him. —Bhupinder Singh Hooda, ex-CM

Ex-cm has nexus with ruling party: dushyant

The Congress candidate is now close to winning

the RS election. If Bhupinder Hooda has no nexus with the BJP, he should field a candidate. We have already promised to vote against the BJP. —Dushayant Chautala, JJP leader

The Jananayak Janta Party (JJP) previously had 10 MLAs, but seven have announced their departure from the party, reducing its effective strength to three. These seven MLAs have yet to declare their position on the Rajya Sabha candidate. INLD’s lone MLA Abhay Chautala and Independent MLA Balraj Kundu have consistently opposed the BJP in the House.

On the other hand, the BJP has 41 MLAs. With the support of Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP)’s sole MLA, Gopal Kanda, Independent Nayan Pal Rawat, and Tosham MLA Kiran Choudhry, their tally reaches 44. JJP MLAs Ram Niwas Surjakhera and Jogi Ram Sihag had openly supported BJP candidates in the Lok Sabha polls. If they also support the BJP Rajya Sabha candidate, the saffron party’s tally would reach 46.

However, the Congress has petitioned Speaker Gian Chand Gupta for the disqualification of Kiran Choudhry, and the JJP has sought the disqualification of Surjakhera and Sihag. Both cases are still pending, but the BJP appears to have the upper hand.

In a post on X and Facebook, Dushyant Chautala said, “August 21 is the last date for nominations for the Haryana Rajya Sabha by-election. Now even 4-5 of our MLAs have joined the Congress. The Congress candidate is now close to winning the election. If Bhupinder Hooda has no nexus with the BJP, he should field a candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. We have already promised to vote against the BJP.” Taking a jibe at Hooda over pending cases, he added, “Jail ke dar se baar baar bikta raha, udhar ka ho aur idhar ka dikhta raha.”

Hooda responded, “I have stated on multiple platforms that we don’t have the numbers. We are not putting up a candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll. JJP MLAs who have resigned have not joined the Congress. It is not clear how they will vote. However, if there is someone who can muster support to defeat the BJP, we are ready to back him.”