Chandigarh, Dec 7 : The ruling Congress in Haryana has issued show cause notice to former tourism minister Kiran Choudhry and some other party leaders following complaints that they had sabotaged the chances of party candidates during the assembly elections, a Congress leader said Monday.

"So far, we have received 26 complaints, and acting on them we have sent notices to around 50 leaders. We have not received any complaint against a sitting MLA," said Phool Chand Mullana, president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), here.

"Based on a complaint, we have also sent a show cause notice to former minister Kiran Choudhry. She is yet to respond to the notice. After getting the replies, we will forward them to the party high command."

The Congress returned with only 40 legislators in the 90-member assembly in the Oct 13 elections. The party fell short of a simple majority by six legislators and was way short of its performance in the February 2005 assembly polls when it had won 67 seats.

Several Congress candidates who lost alleged that certain party leaders were instrumental in their defeat.

Former legislators Ranbir Singh Mahendra and Somvir Singh, son and son-in-law respectively of former chief minister Bansi Lal, openly alleged that Kiran Chaudhry, also a daughter-in-law of Bansi Lal, had contributed to their defeat in Bhiwani district.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had also told the high command that infighting cost the party several seats. (IANS)

The Congress had to seek the support of seven Independent legislators - besides five Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) legislators who defected and one of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - to retain power in Haryana.