Deepender Hooda’s Victory in Rohtak Triggers Rajya Sabha By-Election Amidst Legislative Assembly Power Struggle 

Political Shifts in Haryana: Deepender Hooda’s Victory in Rohtak Triggers Rajya Sabha By-Election Amidst Legislative Assembly Power Struggle

Following the 18th Lok Sabha general election’s conclusion on June 4, Congress’ Deepender Hooda emerged victorious from the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat in Haryana, defeating BJP’s Dr. Arvind Sharma by a significant margin of 3.45 lakh votes. This triumph avenges Hooda’s previous defeat in May 2019. However, Hooda’s election to the Lok Sabha has immediate implications for his Rajya Sabha membership, which he held since March 2020 for a six-year term. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, specifically Section 69(2), Hooda’s Rajya Sabha seat became automatically vacant upon his Lok Sabha election. Consequently, the Election Commission is set to conduct a by-election for this Rajya Sabha seat within weeks, coinciding with by-elections for other Rajya Sabha seats vacated due to similar circumstances nationwide. This by-election becomes critical as it will reflect the power dynamics in the Haryana Legislative Assembly. Currently, the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, faces a precarious situation. Saini recently secured his position by winning the Karnal assembly seat by-election on June 4, bringing the BJP’s count to 41 members in the 87-member Assembly. Despite this, the BJP’s majority is questioned following the withdrawal of support by three independent MLAs and the death of independent MLA Rakesh Daulatabad. The BJP now has 43 members, including the support of independent MLA Nayan Pal Rawat and Halopa MLA Gopal Kanda, falling short of the 44-member majority required. The opposition, comprising Congress, JJP, independents, and INLD’s Abhay Chautala, holds 44 seats. For the BJP to win the forthcoming Rajya Sabha by-election, it needs to secure additional support from the opposition MLAs, thereby proving its majority in the Assembly. The likelihood of the opposition uniting behind a single Rajya Sabha candidate appears slim, offering the BJP a strategic opening. This political maneuvering not only affects the Rajya Sabha representation but also underscores the fragile balance of power within the Haryana Legislative Assembly.

#HaryanaPolitics #RajyaSabhaByElection #DeependerHooda** Pic courtsey Deepender Hooda X handle