Haryana MLA Resigns, Likely to Become BJP Nominee for Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha seat previously held by Congress leader Deepender Hooda was left vacant when he was elected as a Member of the Lower House on June 4th. The BJP is expected to announce Kiran Choudhry’s name after the legislature party meeting in Chandigarh later in the day.

Kiran Choudhry, an MLA from Tosham in Bhiwani, was elected as a member of the Congress in 2019 and is the daughter-in-law of former Haryana chief minister Bansi Lal. Given the last date for filing nomination for the Rajya Sabha bypoll is August 21, the Congress, as the main Opposition party, has decided not to field any candidate, citing lack of majority in the House of 90.

To win the seat, a candidate requires the support of 44 legislators, and currently, the House strength has been reduced to 87. With the switch of loyalty by Kiran Choudhry, the Congress now has 28 MLAs.

Additionally, three Independents have extended their support to the Congress, increasing its number to 31. On the other hand, the BJP has 41 legislators.

With the support of the Haryana Lokhit Party’s lone legislator, Gopal Kanda, Independent Nayan Pal Rawat, the BJP’s tally reaches 43. Moreover, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) legislators Ram Niwas Surjakhera and Jogi Ram Sihag had supported BJP candidates in the Lok Sabha polls.

If they also extend support to the BJP’s Rajya Sabha candidate, the party’s tally would reach 45. The Congress has petitioned Speaker Gupta for the disqualification of Kiran Choudhry, while the JJP has sought the disqualification of Ram Surjakhera and Jogi Sihag.

Both cases are still pending. *(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.

)*