After receiving the complaint about alleged manipulation in voting by the ruling BJP in Haryana Rajya Sabha polls, the Election Commission has summoned Union Minister Birender Singh, media baron Subhash Chandra, lawyer RK Anand, who were candidates for Rajya Sabha polls in Haryana.
The Election Commission has asked BJP leader Birender Singh, Subhash Chandra, RK Anand and Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar to be present in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Thursday at around 11 am, said sources.
Birender Singh had comfortably won a RS seat from Haryana, for which elections were held on June 11. However, following rejection as “invalid” of 14 votes polled in the Rajya Sabha elections for the second seat, independent candidate lawyer RK Anand, backed by INlD and Congress, lost the poll to Subhash Chandra, also an independent who was supported by the ruling BJP.
Haryana Chief Electoral officer Vijay Singh Dahiya would meet the three candidates and Tanwar on Thursday. The videography of the polling process is likely to be shown to them.
A day before, Election Commission team headed by Dahiya visited had Vidhan Sabha and questioned returning officer RK Nandal to inquire about the proceedings of Rajya Sabha election.
Earlier this week, the Congress had asked the Election Commission to ‘countermand’ the elections and order re-polling while INlD in a letter had urged the EC to institute an inquiry into the “deep-rooted conspiracy” behind the Rajya Sabha election.
After the rejection of votes for use of an unauthorised blue pen, Chandra who got only 15 votes won the election. Union Minister and BJP leader Birender Singh had comfortably won the other Rajya Sabha seat from Haryana, garnering 40 votes.
The CEO’s office will shortly send a report on the inquiry to the ECI.