Haryana Congress MLAs Depart Kufri After Strategy Session with HP CM Sukhu

New Delhi, March 16, 2026 – In a high-stakes political move ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha elections, 31 Congress MLAs from Haryana checked out of their luxury accommodation in New Kufri on Sunday afternoon. The departure followed a significant “lunch diplomacy” meeting hosted by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at a private hotel in Chharabra.

The legislators, who had been camping in the hill station since Friday evening, left the resort in a heavily guarded motorcade. According to sources, the group is now moving toward Kasauli in Solan district, positioning themselves closer to the Chandigarh border for the voting scheduled for Monday morning.

The Strategy Behind the Stay

The movement of the Haryana MLAs to the Congress-ruled state of Himachal Pradesh is widely seen as an attempt to “keep the flock together.” With the Rajya Sabha elections for two seats in Haryana set for March 16, the party is leaving nothing to chance to prevent potential poaching or cross-voting.

• The Contenders: The Congress has fielded Karamvir Singh Boudh, while the BJP has nominated Sanjay Bhatia. The entry of an Independent candidate, Satish Nandel, has complicated the arithmetic, turning the election into a three-cornered contest.
• The Numbers Game: In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, a candidate needs 31 votes to win. While the Congress holds 37 seats—mathematically enough to secure one seat—the party leadership is wary of a repeat of the 2022 debacle when cross-voting led to the defeat of its candidate.

Lunch with CM Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu joined the Haryana legislators for lunch on Sunday, a meeting that lasted approximately 90 minutes. While the official line described the visit as a “leisure trip,” the presence of the CM and senior party leaders, including MP Deepender Singh Hooda and Haryana PCC President Rao Narender Singh, signaled a deeper focus on election strategy.

“The Chief Minister attended the lunch where Haryana Congress MLAs were present and held discussions,” confirmed Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Adviser to the CM.

“Fortress” Kufri Under Tight Guard

The stay at New Kufri was marked by intense security. The hotel was reportedly converted into a “fortress,” with entry restricted to staff only.

• Police Deployment: Over three dozen police personnel, supervised by a DSP-rank officer, guarded the premises.
• Communication: Reports suggest that some legislators had limited access to their mobile devices to ensure the group remained insulated from external political influence.

What’s Next?

The MLAs are expected to spend Sunday night in Kasauli before heading directly to the Haryana Legislative Assembly in Chandigarh on Monday. Voting is scheduled to take place between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, with the results expected to be announced later that evening.

The outcome of this election will be a litmus test for the unity of the Haryana Congress and the leadership of Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who has been overseeing the “training session” for the legislators.