The Congress suffered a serious jolt in Haryana the place the BJP’s Krishan Lal Panwar and the saffron party-backed Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma have been declared elected for the 2 Rajya Sabha seats. According to Election Commission officers, Congress candidate Ajay Maken didn’t get sufficient votes. The occasion stated one in all its MLAs cross-voted whereas the vote of an MLA was declared invalid.
Returning Officer R Ok Nandal stated Panwar received 36 votes, whereas Sharma received 23 first choice votes and 6.6 transferred from the BJP, taking his tally to 29.6. It was a photo-finish as Maken received 29 votes, however misplaced on account of no second choice votes.
While the worth of votes polled by the BJP was 3,600, securing the primary seat for Panwar, Sharma received the second seat with a vote worth of two,960, together with 660 that received transferred from the BJP candidate as second choice votes. The Congress’ worth of votes was 2,900.
Congress MLA and the occasion’s authorised polling agent BB Batra stated whereas the vote of a celebration MLA was declared invalid, MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi cross-voted for Sharma, a media baron who had entered the ballot far as an Independent candidate supported by the BJP and its ally JJP.
Both the profitable candidates have been introduced with their victory certificates round 3.30 am as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar congratulated them. Speaking to reporters within the Vidhan Sabha advanced shortly after 4 am, Khattar stated, “I thank all those MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate and the Independent candidate. This in a way is a victory for the people of Haryana and a victory of democracy.”
Replying to a query on Congress’ Kuldeep Bishnoi voting for Sharma, Khattar stated, “He voted listening to his inner conscience. I can say that he must have voted after being influenced by the policies and achievements of the Modi government. He did not bother what action the Congress will take…I congratulate him.”
“The party will welcome him if he joins it,” the BJP chief stated when requested if the BJP’s doorways are open to him. “Hooda Sahab ka bhi swagat hai (even formers Congress chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is welcome).”
When requested in regards to the experiences of recounting of votes having taken place, Khattar stated the Congress had demanded a recount, and the BJP and JJP didn’t object. “They (the Congress) thought they had got 30 votes,” stated Khattar of Congress, including whereas Bishnoi didn’t vote for the Congress candidate, one vote of their candidate was declared invalid.
The Congress has 31 MLAs.Kartikeya’s father Benod Sharma, who was previously a Congress chief, stated, “I was sure of Kartikeya’s victory. I am happy that he won.”
The outcomes are additionally a setback for former Congress chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda because the occasion had not too long ago changed Kumari Selja as its state unit chief together with his loyalist Udai Bhan.
The counting was placed on maintain after the BJP and Sharma wrote to the EC alleging violation of guidelines and demanded the votes of two Congress MLAs — Kiran Choudhary and B B Batra — be declared invalid as they’d allegedly confirmed their poll papers to unauthorised individuals after marking them. Election Commission sources in Delhi stated the demand was rejected.
The Congress had additionally approached the Election Commission accusing the BJP of attempting to defeat the method of free and truthful election, and it demanded quick declaration of outcomes. Eighty-nine of a complete of 90 MLAs in Haryana had forged their votes whereas Independent MLA Balraj Kundu had abstained.
The BJP with 40 MLAs had 9 greater than the 31 first choice votes required for a straight win. The Congress has 31 MLAs.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”