Haryana Rajya Sabha poll: Counting delayed; Congress writes to ECI alleging ‘attempt at interference’

The polling for the two seats of Rajya Sabha from Haryana was held in Chandigarh on Monday (March 16, 2026) in the Haryana State Assembly, even as the counting has been delayed after the BJP and the Congress filed separate complaints.

The counting was to begin at 5 P.M., but it was yet to begin till the filing of this report.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Chief Election Commissioner, saying there was an attempt at interference with the ongoing election to the Rajya Sabha in Haryana.

In the letter, Mr. Kharge, said “There is a clear attempt to interfere with the integrity of the election and it must be stopped – redressed by the ECI immediately. Furthermore, no disqualification of our legitimate voters – votes cast can be allowed in what is clearly a transparent attempt to taint/derail the process.”

“Given the time sensitive nature of the matter, we request time immediately for a delegation led by Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi along with senior leaders from the party to meet your good self before the declaration of the results,” he added.

The BJP had filed a complaint about a breach of secrecy in the votes of two Congress MLAs, including Bharat Singh Beniwal, MLA from Ellenabad, and Parmvir Singh, MLA from Tohana, the Congress party registered a complaint with the returning officer about a breach of secrecy in the vote of Cabinet Minister Anil Vij.

In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, 88 MLAs cast their votes. The two MLAs of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), including Arjun Chautala and Aditya Devilal stayed away from voting. With 88 votes polled, the winning quota came down to 30 votes

For Haryana’s two vacant Rajya Sabha seats, three candidates are in the fray. The Congress party had fielded Karmavir Singh Boudh, while the BJP nominated Sanjay Bhatia. The third candidate is Satish Nandal as an Independent.

The ruling BJP has 48 MLAs, Congress has 37, the Indian National Lok Dal has two MLAs and three legislators are Independents in the 90-member Haryana Assembly.