Congress issues show-cause notices to four members ahead of Pkl MC polls

Panchkula: Ahead of the Panchkula MC elections, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has issued show-cause notices to four party leaders, including a former mayor, over alleged anti-party activities in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections.Notices have been served to former Panchkula mayor Upender Walia, her husband Dhanendra Walia, former MC councillor Naresh Rawal and former municipal council president Ravinder Rawal. The action follows a complaint filed by local Congress MLA and former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan.According to the notices issued by the party's disciplinary action committee, chaired by Dharampal Singh Malik, Chander Mohan alleged that the four leaders worked against the party's official candidate during the 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election from Panchkula constituency. The complaint states that their actions were detrimental to interests of the party.In the 2024 elections, Chander Mohan defeated BJP candidate Gian Chand Gupta in the Panchkula Assembly seat by a margin of 1,997 votes. The party leadership has taken a serious view of the allegations, particularly in the context of the narrow margin of victory.After deliberations, the disciplinary action committee observed that if the allegations are established, the acts would constitute a serious breach of party discipline and violation of the Congress constitution and established norms. The committee noted that such conduct undermines the unity, discipline and ideological commitment of the party.In four separate letters addressed individually to leaders concerned, the committee has asked them to submit written replies within seven days, explaining why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them. The notices clearly state that failure to respond within the specified time will invite further action in accordance with party rules.Copies of the show-cause notices have also been marked to senior Congress leaders, including former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, among others, for information and further necessary action.