Haryana Cong MLAs told to vote for Anand

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 10

Days of suspense over the Congress’ strategy for the Rajya Sabha poll ended today with party president Sonia Gandhi asking the MLAs to vote for INLD-backed Independent nominee RK Anand in tomorrow’s election.

A meeting of the Haryana Legislature Party today left the matter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Most MLAs expressed reservations on voting alongside rival INLD. But the central leadership, which was of the view that BJP-backed Independent candidate Subhash Chandra must be defeated, prevailed over the state leadership that favoured abstaining from voting. This, however, would  have ensured a win for media baron Chandra whose Zee TV group, a Congress leader said, was repeatedly targeting the party leadership.

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Whether the MLAs were happy with the decision was unclear with former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda leaving the party office without any comment. Kiran Choudhry, CLP leader, said Anand had reposed faith in the Congress leadership and the party principles which was why the MLAs had decided to back him. 

Anand, who was present at the AICC office throughout the CLP meeting which was chaired by Congress observer BK Hariprasad, came out and announced he was an Independent candidate who had come to seek Congress' support. “I don’t want BJP votes. They divide and rule. I am a former Congress man. I have faith in the leadership of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and in the principles that Congress stands for,” he said. Moments later, he was granted the Congress backing, officially.

Senior Congress MLA and Hooda confidant Kuldeep Sharma said Anand had promised to support the Congress inside and outside the Rajya Sabha. Also, he 

had "nothing to do with the INLD."  Congress MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi justified the decision, saying "Anand is now a Congress candidate. He has openly said he will work for the Congress."

It is learnt that the Congress took an undertaking in writing from Anand that he would vote alongside the Congress in the Rajya Sabha.