Cong-INLD bonhomie ends in disaster in Haryana

The BJP won both the Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana, including one that was clinched by media baron Subash Chandra, in a close contest.

Union minister Chaudhary Birender Singh won the seat with 40 votes. The election of Chandra, an independent candidate with BJP’s backing, witnessed suspense right down to the wire with charges of horse trading. Chandra clinched victory from senior advocate R K Anand.

Until Saturday morning, victory appeared to tilt in favour of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD)-backed independent candidate Anand, who on Friday found unexpected support from Congress MLAs.

However, at least 13 votes of the Congress, including that of Randeep Surjewala, were cancelled by the election commission paving way for Chandra's victory. In all, there were 76 valid votes, of which, 40 went to Birender Singh while Chandra won the second seat with 29 votes. In fact, the unexpected bonhomie between the Congress and the INLD after Friday's Congress meeting in New Delhi had raised eyebrows.

One of the INLD MLAs also voted for Chandra. Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said sources, was unhappy with the party decision to support INLD-backed candidate R K Anand.

The outcome is a setback for the Congress which could have ensured a victory for Anand had its 13 votes not been disqualified.