Counting of votes in the Haryana Rajya Sabha election was delayed on March 16 after rival parties lodged complaints alleging breaches of the secrecy of ballot papers by specific MLAs, officials said.
Objections from both parties stall process
With the count yet to begin, party functionaries from the Congress and the BJP raised formal objections that ballot papers were displayed to unauthorised persons during the voting process, potentially violating rules that protect the confidentiality of an MLA's vote in legislative elections. The returning officer will examine the complaints and rule on their admissibility before counting can start, the sources said.
Congress objected to the ballot cast by BJP MLA and cabinet minister Anil Vij, contending that the secrecy of his vote was not maintained. The BJP, in turn, challenged votes attributed to Congress MLAs Parmveer Singh and Bharat Beniwal, alleging that while the lawmakers showed their marked ballots to authorised polling agents the markings were visible to people other than those agents.
"Interference"
Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to the Election Commission alleging what he described as "interference" in the conduct of the Rajya Sabha polls in Haryana, according to party sources.
What the objections allege
The complaints centre on two related points: whether the act of displaying a marked ballot—allegedly visible beyond the authorised polling agent—amounts to a breach of the statutory secrecy requirements; and whether such an alleged breach could affect the validity of the ballot. The returning officer will determine whether the objections raise prima facie grounds to reject any challenged votes or to take other remedial steps as provided under the relevant election rules.
- Objections lodged: By Congress against BJP MLA Anil Vij; by BJP against Congress MLAs Parmveer Singh and Bharat Beniwal.
- Immediate impact: Counting postponed until the returning officer rules on the objections.
- Escalation: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has written to the Election Commission alleging interference.
Process and possible outcomes
Under the rules governing indirect elections to the Rajya Sabha, the secrecy of the ballot is a fundamental requirement. If the returning officer finds that secrecy was indeed breached and the circumstances warrant action, possible outcomes range from treating the ballot as invalid to other procedural remedies depending on the nature and extent of the breach. The law requires careful adjudication because decisions can alter the final count or trigger further legal challenges.
| Party raising objection | MLA(s) challenged | Nature of complaint |
|---|---|---|
| Congress | Anil Vij (BJP) | Alleged failure to maintain secrecy of ballot |
| BJP | Parmveer Singh, Bharat Beniwal (Congress) | Marked ballots allegedly visible to unauthorised persons |
Counting will resume only after the returning officer completes his examination and issues an order on whether to uphold or reject the objections. Party sources said the outcome of the ruling will determine whether the process proceeds smoothly or becomes subject to further legal or political contestation.
Political stakes and wider context
Rajya Sabha elections are often tightly contested in states with fragmented assemblies, and the secrecy of vote casting is a flashpoint because it can affect strategic calculations by party leaders and legislators. Allegations of compromised secrecy may prompt observers to watch closely for any subsequent appeals to the Election Commission or the courts, which could prolong finalisation of the result.
At this stage, the facts on record are the objections filed by the two national parties and the letter from the Congress president to the Election Commission referring to alleged "interference". The returning officer's pending decision will be determinative of the immediate course of action in the counting room.
