Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], March 1 (HBTV): The Haryana unit of Congress has expelled five leaders, including a former MLA, for six years for indulging in 'anti-party activities' with immediate effect.

The leaders were expelled following reports of their involvement in anti-party activities.

Former MLA Rambir Singh is among those expelled. The other four leaders are Vijay Kaushik, Rahul Chaudhary, Pooja Rani, and Rupesh Malik.

An order issued by the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee stated: 'Consequent upon the receipt of reports through various means of communications pertaining to party leaders/workers having found indulged in anti-party activities in the recent past during the ongoing process of MC Elections (2025), the following persons are hereby expelled from the party for six years with immediate effect.'

Earlier, on February 20, the Congress in Haryana had expelled seven party leaders from across the state for engaging in 'anti-party activities' ahead of the 2025 municipal corporation elections.

The seven leaders were suspended for six years in consultation with the state in-charge, B.K. Hariprasad.

According to the order, the expelled leaders included former District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents Tarlochan Singh and Ashok Khurana (Karnal), Member Coordination Committee Pradeep Chaudhary (Karnal), and former District Youth Congress (DYC) president Madhu Chaudhary (Yamuna Nagar). Ram Niwas Rara, a Congress candidate from the Hisar assembly constituency, was also expelled. Additionally, Harvinder (Lovely) and Ram Kishan Sain from Gurugram were expelled for six years with immediate effect.

Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan also raised concerns over the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and demanded the use of ballot papers for the upcoming polls.

'We have demanded that elections be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs, like in Uttarakhand... In every state election, EVMs are being questioned, and cases have been registered due to doubts over their authenticity. Ballot papers should be used as permitted under the law,' he said.

Raising concerns over the delay in vote counting, he added, 'Secondly, the counting of votes for all local body elections takes place on the day of the election itself. So why are the results of the Haryana Municipal Corporation elections being delayed by 10 days?'

(ANI)