Haryana Rajya Sabha Polls: Fear of Cross Voting Revives ‘Bharat Darshan’ Politics
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana – Pawan Kumar Bansal
The old political traditions of “Bharat Darshan,” floor crossing, “Aaya Ram Gaya Ram,” and cross voting appear to be resurfacing in Haryana ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Amid fears of cross voting, the Congress party has reportedly sent its legislators on a “Bharat Darshan” tour to the safe hill destination of Kufri in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh.
The apprehension of cross voting is so strong that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also moved its legislators to another location. Elections are to be held for two Rajya Sabha seats, and the current arithmetic suggests that the BJP can comfortably secure one seat, while Congress may also win one seat—provided there is no cross voting by its legislators in favour of BJP-supported independent candidate Satish Nandal.
The election has become a prestige battle for both Nayab Singh Saini and former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Political observers recall that a similar episode unfolded about 46 years ago when a revolt erupted against the leadership of then Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal. With the blessings of the party high command, Bhajan Lal toppled the government. At that time, Bhajan Lal reportedly took his supporting legislators on a “Bharat Darshan” trip to Rajasthan in a deluxe bus carrying a humorous banner reading “BHAJAN WEDS DEVI.”
Meanwhile, in Chandigarh, Devi Lal was reportedly reprimanding the DIG of CID for failing to locate the missing legislators. According to political anecdotes, CID officials eventually intercepted the bus carrying Bhajan Lal’s supporters, but a witty associate, Khurshid Ahmad, misled them by claiming it was a wedding procession, pointing to the banner “BHAJAN WEDS DEVI.”
Currently, Haryana CID chief Saurabh Singh is said to be keeping the Chief Minister informed about developments, while intelligence officials are reportedly monitoring possible attempts to influence legislators.
For the Rajya Sabha contest, the BJP has fielded former MP Sanjay Bhatia, considered close to Union Minister and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The Congress, on the other hand, has nominated relatively lesser-known party worker Karmvir Bodh, reportedly the choice of Rahul Gandhi.
Although Bodh’s candidature surprised many Congress legislators, party insiders believe they will ultimately follow the directives of the party high command.
Haryana’s political history has often been marked by dramatic episodes of cross voting and controversies such as the “Ink Gate,” making the current developments another reminder of the state’s unpredictable political landscape.