This Article is From Jun 11, 2016

In Rajya Sabha Elections, A Surprise Win For BJP In Haryana

In Rajya Sabha Elections, A Surprise Win For BJP In Haryana

Media mogul Subhash Chandra was declared the winner after 14 Congress vote were considered invalid.

Highlights

  • Independent candidate Subhash Chandra, backed by BJP, wins
  • Mr Chandra defeated RK Anand, backed by Congress and INLD
  • 14 Congress votes declared invalid after legislators used 'wrong' ink
Chandigarh: Media mogul Subhash Chandra, an independent candidate backed by the BJP, scored an unexpected win in the Rajya Sabha elections today after 14 Congress votes were declared invalid. Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh took the other seat in the state.

By securing 29 votes, Mr Chandra defeated senior lawyer RK Anand, an independent candidate who had been banking on the support of the Congress and Indian National Lok Dal or INLD. He got 15 votes.

The 14 votes that were declared invalid in the 90-member assembly was due to the Congress legislators using the wrong ink, officials said.

Among the votes cancelled was that of Congress legislator and spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala who had allegedly showed his vote to another party leader Kiran Chaudhary.

But political analysts said the result could point to a rebellion within the party which had seen its leader Bhupinder Hooda reluctantly agree to go with chief Sonia Gandhi's decision to back Mr Anand in the election.

"Let's not jump to conclusions. We need to get to the bottom of this," party leader Salman Khushid said, when asked about the result.

But the assembly complex saw high drama in the evening as a blame game broke out between the Congress and the INLD. The counting of votes was delayed for over two hours following objections raised by various parties.

Leader of opposition and INLD leader Abhay Chautala accused Congress legislators of getting their votes rejected during the election on Saturday. But Congress legislator Karan Singh Dalal blamed the INLD for Mr Anand's defeat.

Results for the Rajya Sabha elections in seven states were declared today  as legislators in state assemblies voted to elect 27 lawmakers while 30 were chosen unopposed.

The BJP swept the polls in Rajasthan and Jharkhand while the Congress managed to take some consolation in the victory of former Union Minister Kapil Sibal in Uttar Pradesh.
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