A serious controversy has surfaced within the Congress party after a Mahila Congress leader from Haryana alleged that her husband paid crores of rupees to senior leaders of the party and members of the Gandhi family in the hope of securing an election ticket for the Haryana Assembly polls. The allegations, which have now drawn national attention, were made public on Monday (9th March), when the leader expressed deep disappointment and regret over what she described as broken promises and deception by the party leadership.

According to the Mahila Congress general secretary in Haryana, her family made large financial contributions believing that it would help secure a Vidhan Sabha ticket for her husband. Speaking about the experience, she said, “We have given crores of rupees…We were given false hopes…the high command is deceiving us…They are taking money from us, but we are not getting any benefits.”

Her remarks suggest that the money was allegedly paid through intermediaries linked to senior Congress figures. She specifically named several individuals and said that the payments were made through their personal staff. The woman claimed that her husband, Gaurav Kumar, transferred crores of rupees to senior party leaders including K. Suresh, KC Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi via their Personal Assistants. These claims, if proven true, could raise serious questions about the internal functioning of the party and the process through which candidates are selected for elections.

The leader further stated that her family complied with the demands made during the process, expecting that the assurances given to them would be honoured. However, according to her account, those promises never materialised. Expressing her frustration over the outcome, she said, “We fulfilled the demands of everyone but we were made false assurances of being provided election ticket for Vidhan Sabha,” adding that the experience had left her feeling cheated and disillusioned.

In the aftermath of these allegations, the Mahila Congress leader has decided to step away from the party. She confirmed that she has resigned from the Congress, bringing an end to what she described as a decades-long association between her family and the organisation. Reflecting on her background and political journey, she said, “I come from the Dalit community, I am the daughter of a martyr, and my family has been connected with the Congress party for 56 years.”

Her statement highlights the emotional weight behind the decision, as the Congress party had been a part of her family’s political life for more than half a century.

Meanwhile, her husband Gaurav Kumar has also spoken publicly about the matter and claims to possess evidence that supports the allegations. According to him, conversations and messages exchanged during the process contain admissions regarding the money that was allegedly paid. Speaking about this, he said, “In the chats, they themselves have admitted that yes, they took the money. I have only mentioned the names of three or four leaders so far, but there are many more…”

Kumar also directly challenged the Congress leadership, specifically targeting Rahul Gandhi. In a strong statement directed at the senior leader, he declared, “I am giving an open challenge to Rahul Gandhi… I will show you the mirror of what is happening in your own house, and what your senior leaders are doing.”

He concluded his remarks by suggesting that either the leadership was unaware of what was happening within the party or was complicit in the alleged activities. In his words, “Either they are doing something wrong with you, or you yourself are getting it done…”

Veteran Party Worker Claims Betrayal Despite Long Association

The Mahila Congress leader also revealed that she had already submitted her resignation from the party nearly two weeks ago, though it had not yet been formally accepted by the organisation. Recalling the timeline, she said, “I submitted my resignation 12 days ago, which has still not been accepted,” indicating that she had decided to leave the party even before the issue became widely discussed in the media.

She again highlighted her family’s long-standing association with the Congress party and the sacrifices made by her family members over decades. Emphasising her personal and social background, she repeated, “I come from the Dalit community, I am the daughter of a martyr, and my family has been connected with the Congress party for 56 years.”

According to her, the financial contributions made by her family were driven by hope and trust in the party leadership. However, she alleged that those hopes were ultimately betrayed. Describing the situation once again, she stated, “We have given crores of rupees… We were given false hopes… The high command is deceiving us. They are taking money from us, but we are not getting any benefits,” reinforcing the allegations that the payments did not lead to any political opportunity.

BJP Leaders Target Congress Over Corruption Allegations

The allegations quickly triggered sharp political reactions, particularly from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who accused the Congress of widespread corruption and demanded explanations from its senior leadership.

Reacting to the controversy, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised the Congress and linked the allegations to what he described as systemic corruption within the party. Speaking about the issue, he remarked, “INC means ‘I need cash, I need corruption, I need commission’,” while referring to the accusations raised by the former Mahila Congress leader.

Poonawalla further argued that senior Congress leaders must respond to the allegations and clarify their position. He specifically named leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal and questioned why the party had not initiated legal action if the claims were false. He said, “Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal and other senior leaders must respond. If the allegations are false, why has no defamation case been filed? If there is no action, it raises serious questions,” suggesting that silence from the party leadership would only deepen suspicion.

The BJP leader also claimed that similar allegations about the sale of election tickets had surfaced in the past and alleged that corruption had been a recurring issue in Congress politics.

As of now, the Congress party has not issued any official response addressing the accusations made by the Mahila Congress leader and her husband.

BJP Press Conference Raises Allegations of ₹7 Crore Demand

The controversy intensified further when the Bharatiya Janata Party held a press conference last Tuesday to address the issue. During the briefing, BJP leaders targeted the Congress leadership and alleged that members of the Gandhi-Vadra family attempted to extort Rs 7 crore during the Haryana Assembly elections. They also claimed that alleged WhatsApp chats had surfaced which, according to them, provide “prima facie evidence” of corruption.

Addressing journalists in Delhi, BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that the allegations had become a major topic of discussion across the country. Speaking at the press conference, he stated, “In the last few days, the entire country has been talking about just one issue: that the entire Congress party has been exposed as corrupt and compromised, with the kingpin of this corruption being the Gandhi-Vadra family."

Bhandari also referred to the claims made by Gaurav Kumar and presented screenshots of WhatsApp chats and conversations that he said were connected to senior Congress leaders. According to him, these chats allegedly indicate financial dealings related to the distribution of election tickets.

He further alleged that evidence has surfaced against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the Bawal Assembly constituency in Haryana.

Further details and political developments surrounding the controversy are likely to emerge as the matter continues to draw attention in national politics. For reference on the Haryana Assembly elections and political developments in the state, readers can consult the Election Commission of India’s official website: https://eci.gov.in.