The Fact News service
Gurugram, April,1
While Congress is yet to declare its candidates in Haryana, Deepender Hooda is being touted as a probable candidate from Rohtak constituency. Currently a Rajya Sabha MP Deepender’s candidature and win in Lok Sabha elections according to political analysts will cost congress a seat in Rajya Sabha. Deepender, a three time MP from the area, was defeated by a close margin of around 7000 votes by current MP Dr. Arvind Sharma. BJP has yet again announced Sharma as a candidate. Deepender was then sent to Rajya Sabha. While speculations were rife Deepender’s father and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda may be chosen for Lok Sabha elections but his open denial for the same has made Deepender the available choice.
According to political expert and legal consultant Hemant Kumar, referring to Section 69(2) of the Representation of the People Act (RP Act), 1951, Deepender’s Rajya Sabha membership will be terminated in case of his win on June 04. “The Act clearly states that if a person who is already a member of the Rajya Sabha and gets elected in Lok Sabha, his seat in the Rajya Sabha will become vacant from the date of his election as a member of the Lok Sabha. The term of Rajya Sabha of Deepender Hooda is from April 2020 to April 2026, so in the event of his winning the election from the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat, his Rajya Sabha membership will end from June 4, 2024. The tenure will be more than one year therefore after the completion of the 18th Lok Sabha general election the Election Commission of India will hold by-elections on all the vacant Rajya Sabha seats. This will include Deepender’s seat and if we go by legislative arithmatic of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha this seat will go in kitty of BJP,” said Kumar.
Kumar elaborating on the same says that tenure of the current 14th Haryana Vidhan Sabha is till 3 November 2024 and despite the withdrawal of support by ten JJP MLAs, the ruling BJP government under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has a majority in the House.
“Given the current conditions BJP’s candidate can go to Rajya Sabha till April 2026 after being elected unopposed during the by-election. Currently, the BJP government has the support of 45 MLAs (40 of BJP) in the 88-member Haryana Legislative. Even if resignations of former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Power Minister Ranjit Chautala are taken into account in addition to the Lok Sabha victory of Mohan Lal Badoli, BJP MLA from Rai Vidhan Sabha, the party will be in majority”, said Kumar. This arithmetic will ensure that BJP will have its MP in Rajya Sabha seat for next two years if the same is vacated by Deepender.
