BJP's Sanjay Bhatia, Congress' Karamvir Boudh claim Rajya Sabha wins in Haryana

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 17, 2026 03:16 IST

The BJP and Congress on Monday claimed victory on one seat each in the elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in Haryana after voting was marred by complaints of violations of vote secrecy and allegations of cross-voting.

The seats were contested by BJP candidate Sanjay Bhatia, Congress nominee Karamvir Singh Boudh, and Independent candidate Satish Nandal.

Soon after the counting process concluded, leaders from both parties announced that their respective candidates had won.

The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said his party’s nominee had secured victory on one of the two seats.

"It is our victory," the veteran Congress leader told reporters.

Calling the outcome a triumph for democracy, he said, "There is a victory of 'Prajatantar' and defeat of 'vote chori'," as he and other Congress leaders flashed victory signs.

Meanwhile, Haryana minister Gaurav Gautam said the BJP’s candidate Sanjay Bhatia had also been elected.

COUNTING DELAYED AFTER COMPLAINTS

The counting of votes, scheduled to begin at 5 pm after polling ended at 4 pm, was delayed by more than five hours following complaints from both parties alleging violations of ballot secrecy.

Earlier in the day, Haryana minister Krishan Kumar Bedi said the BJP had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) accusing two Congress MLAs of breaching vote secrecy.

"Two Congress MLAs did not fold their ballots as required, thereby violating the secrecy of their vote. We have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission," Bedi said.

The legislators he was mentioning were Bharat Singh Beniwal from Ellenabad and Paramvir Singh from Tohana.

CONGRESS REJECTS ALLEGATIONS

Congress leaders rejected the BJP’s allegations and accused the ruling party of raising objections after polling had concluded. Senior Congress leader Ashok Arora said no complaint was filed when the MLAs cast their votes and alleged that the BJP raised the issue only after 4 pm, when the voting concluding.

Arora also said the Congress had lodged a complaint with the EC against senior BJP leader and minister Anil Vij, accusing him of violating vote secrecy.

Earlier, Haryana Congress chief Rao Narender Singh had dismissed allegations against his party’s MLAs and expressed confidence that the Congress candidate would win.

Boudh also filed a complaint with the EC alleging partisan conduct by the returning officer.

ELECTION COMMISSION CLEARS COUNTING

Official sources, cited by news agency PTI said the counting process began only after the Election Commission granted approval following complaints from both sides. Notably, Independent Satish Nandal had contested the 2019 Haryana Assembly elections as a BJP nominee but lost.

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(With inputs from agencies)