JAIPUR: Congress on Friday won three, out of four, Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan with cross-voting by BJP members. The BJP has managed to win one seat, while independent candidate and media baron Subhash Chandra lost.
The Congress has fielded Mukul Wasnik, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Pramod Tewari as its candidates for the Rajya Sabha while the BJP has fielded Ghanshyam Tiwari. Meanwhile, media baron Subhash Chandra contested as an independent candidate after being backed by BJP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party.
After the results of the Rajya Sabha polls were announced, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot minced no words to target the BJP accusing it of trying horse-trading.
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In a series of tweets in Hindi, Gehlot said, “Congress’ victory in three Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan is a victory for democracy. I congratulate all the three newly elected MPs Tiwari, Wasnik and Surjewala. I am sure that all the three MPs will be able to strongly advocate the rights of Rajasthan in Delhi.”
राजस्थान में तीन राज्यसभा सीटों पर कांग्रेस की विजय लोकतंत्र की जीत है। मैं तीनों नवनिर्वाचित सांसदों श्री प्रमोद तिवारी, श्री मुकुल वासनिक एवं श्री रणदीप सुरजेवाला को बधाई देता हूं। मुझे पूर्ण विश्वास है कि तीनों सांसद दिल्ली में राजस्थान के हक की मजबूती से पैरवी कर सकेंगे।
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) June 10, 2022
Targeting the BJP in another tweet, the Chief Minister said, “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.”
The Rajya Sabha poll in Rajasthan was closely watched. Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Tribal Party legislator Rajkumar Roat and Ramprasad Dindor voted for Congress by going against their party chief who had issued a whip to its MLAs to not take part in the election process. Similarly, BJP MLA Shobha Rani Kushwaha was also accused of voting for Congress.