Face2News/Chandigarh
A controversy has surfaced over the alleged appointment of a sitting minister and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) as counting agents during the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana, raising questions about adherence to guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Advocate Hemant Kumar, practicing at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has formally raised the issue before the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, alleging violation of ECI’s standing instructions.
Alleged Violation of ECI Guidelines
According to the representation, the ECI had issued instructions dated May 9, 2014, clearly stating that sitting ministers and MLAs should not be appointed as counting agents during elections.
However, during the biennial elections to fill two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana, for which polling and counting were held on March 16, 2026, candidates from major political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, as well as an Independent candidate, allegedly appointed serving minister(s) and sitting MLAs as counting agents, in contravention of these guidelines.
Complaint Filed, No Response Yet
The complainant stated that the matter was first brought to the notice of the ECI on the night of March 16, while the counting process was still underway. A reminder was subsequently sent on March 24.
Despite the lapse of over a week, no response or action has been reported from the ECI, the advocate claimed.
Serious Questions Raised
The development has triggered concerns regarding:
Compliance with ECI’s own binding instructions
The neutrality and fairness of the counting process
Possible influence of elected representatives in a sensitive electoral stage
Demand for Immediate Action
In his representation, Hemant Kumar has urged the Election Commission of India to:
Take immediate cognizance of the alleged violation
Order an inquiry into the matter
Fix accountability for the lapse
Ensure strict compliance with its 2014 instructions in future elections
Copies of the representation have also been marked to Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer A. Sreenivas and Returning Officer Pankaj Agarwal.
Conclusion : The controversy has put the spotlight on procedural compliance in high-stakes elections like those to the Rajya Sabha. It remains to be seen how the Election Commission of India responds to the allegations and whether any corrective measures will follow.
