Great wins and losses from all sides, but exhilaration of 3 new Congress candidates’ wins fielded in Rajasthan defeating BJP’s horse trading!
Speaking about the Rajya Sabha Elections, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot celebrated the victory of three candidates from the Congress on Twitter saying it was “clear from the beginning”. He tweeted in Hindi: “It was clear from the beginning that the Congress had the required majority for all three seats. But BJP tried horse-trading by fielding an independent. The solidarity of our MLAs has given a befitting reply to this effort. The BJP will face a similar defeat in the 2023 assembly elections as well.”
Mr. Gehlot added: “Congress’ victory in three Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan is a victory for democracy. I congratulate all the three newly elected MPs Shri Pramod Tiwari, Shri Mukul Wasnik, and Shri Randeep Surjewala. I am sure that all the three MPs will be able to strongly advocate the rights of Rajasthan in Delhi.”
Congress candidate Ajay Maken officially wins from Haryana and there was great rejoicing in the Congress camps with applauding for Hooda!
Imran Pratapgarhi, the victorious Congress candidate said he was happy with his win but the defeat of Shiv Sena candidate Sanjay Pawar was unfortunate.
NCP leader Praful Patel said he will continue to make sure the concerns of Maharashtra are heard and addressed.
He tweeted, “A huge thank you to all my supporters and well-wishers for electing me to serve as the Rajya Sabha Member of the Parliament. I express my heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Pawar Saheb and NCP for entrusting me with this responsibility.”
I am deeply humbled by your support, and I want to assure you that I will continue to work day and night to make sure that your concerns and of my Maharashtra state are heard and addressed, he added.
Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut, NCP’s Praful Patel, and Congress’ Imran Pratapgarhi also won the fiercely-contested elections.
Raut blamed the poll panel for the defeat of the fourth MVA candidate and said, “Election Commission made our one vote invalid. We objected to two votes but no action was taken on that demand. Election Commission favored them (BJP).”
Of the 284 valid votes, Goyal polled 48, Bonde 48, Mahadik 41.56, Raut 41, Pratapgarhi 44, and Patel 43.
The contest was for the sixth seat the BJP had fielded former MP Dhananjay Mahadik and the Shiv Sena candidate was Sanjay Pawar, who lost. Mahadik and Pawar hail from Kolhapur in western Maharashtra.
The high-stake battle for the sixth turned out a fight between Congress and BJP trading charges, even approaching the Election Commission.
“Elections are contested not just for the fight, but the victory. Jai Maharashtra” tweeted BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, whose refusal to have a consensus candidate for the Rajya Sabha led to elections in the state after 24 years.
The counting of votes started after an eight-hour delay amid complaints of cross-voting and rules violations by the BJP and the ruling alliance.
Both BJP and the Shiv Sena approached the Election Commission, alleging cross-voting and seeking disqualification of votes.
There was scrutiny of ballot papers complete in Maharashtra where 284 votes were held valid while Shiv Sena MLA Suhas Kande’s vote was held invalid by ECI. MVA leaders claimed victory on all 4 seats.
MVA candidate said, “BJP was cunning in holding up the counting and getting one vote invalid. We were confident that all four of our candidates will win comfortably.”