Haryana Rajya Sabha results delayed after 16 objections

Counting of votes for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana was delayed on Saturday following 16 objections raised by various sides.

Haryana Education Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Bilas Sharma said the objections were forwarded to the Election Commission of India (EC) for clearance.

The results were to be declared around 5 p.m. but the counting process was delayed due to the objections raised.

The objections were raised by the ruling BJP, opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and some independents.

There were reports that the vote of Congress legislator Randeep Singh Surjewala was cancelled following an objection raised by the BJP chief whip Gian Chand Gupta. Surjewala allegedly showed his vote to another party leader Kiran Chaudhary.

Union Minister for Rural Development Birender Singh, who is a ruling BJP candidate, is sure of getting elected.

The fight for the second seat was over two independent candidates — Delhi-based lawyer R.K. Anand and media baron and Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra.

While Anand was supported by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Chandra had the support of the ruling BJP.

All 90 legislators in the Haryana assembly cast their vote during polling here.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that support for Anand by the Congress has shown that the party (Congress) was the B-team of the INLD.

Leader of the Congress in the Haryana Assembly Kiran Chaudhary said that anyone could make political allegations on the issue.

"The reality is that Mr Anand came to the AICC (on Friday) and expressed full faith in the Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and ideology. That is why the Congress decided to support him as a candidate," Chaudhary said.