Congress candidate Ahmed Patel on Wednesday beat the BJP nominee in a bitterly fought Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat after late night dramatic developments saw the Election Commission reject the votes of two dissident Congress MLAs for violating electoral rules.
Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, beat the BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput with 44 votes.
BJP chief Amit Shah made his maiden entry into the house, as did party nominee and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani.
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- Congress leader Ahmed Patel retained his Gujarat Rajya Sabha seat with 44 votes
- Amit Shah and Smriti Irani were also elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat
- Congress leaders celebrated Patel's victory, while BJP vowed to seek legal action
- Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani said the party disagreed with the EC's decision
- The EC disqualified two votes cast by rebel Congress legislators for violating the secrecy of the ballot
14 Congress MLAs Expelled from Party
After Congress veteran Ahmed Patel's hard-fought victory in the Rajya Sabha elections, the party on Wednesday cracked the whip against 8 rebel MLAs, including former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela, expelling them for six years for anti-party activities.
The party has expelled all eight rebel MLAs, including Shankersinh Vaghela, who cross-voted against Ahmed bhai, defying the party whip.Manish Doshi, Gujarat Congress Spokesperson
“We have also initiated similar action against six other legislators who resigned earlier after the party had issued a whip to all MLAs to vote for the official nominee in the Rajya Sabha elections,” he said, adding that the action against them is on technical grounds.
PM Modi Congratulates Amit Shah and Smriti Irani
Congratulating Amit Shah and Smriti Irani on their victory, PM Modi tweeted the following:
Congratulations to BJP President @AmitShah & ministerial colleague @smritiirani on getting elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.
August 9, 2017'Don't Agree With EC's Decision': Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani
“Don't agree with EC's decision. In coming days we will fight a legal battle and will get justice,” said Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani.
Congress Celebrates Patel's Victory
Top congress leaders took to Twitter to celebrate Patel's victory.
साम,दाम,दण्ड,भेद हमेशा नहीं चलते।
August 8, 2017
Treachery,immorality & misuse of State power defeated in Gujarat at the altar of truth and principles.Money, muscle and manipulation could not win in the Gujarat RS election.
August 8, 2017Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and leads the truth, Victory of democracy against money power has established it again #GujaratRSPolls
August 8, 2017"I Salute Party Workers": Ahmed Patel
“It was a tough election, everyone worked together and our party emerged stronger out of it,” said Ahmed Patel after winning his Rajya Sabha seat on Wednesday.
He further said: “Under Rahul Gandhi's leadership Congress will be strengthened and we will win elections.”
Congress's Ahmed Patel Retains Rajya Sabha Seat
Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi has managed to retain his Rajya Sabha seat for a fifth term. Patel tweeted after his dramatic win:
This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery
August 8, 2017Patel has defeated Congress renegade Balwantsinh Rajput, who had left the Congress to join BJP prior to the Rajya Sabha election.
I want to thank each & every MLA who voted for me despite unprecedented intimidation & pressure from BJP.They voted for an inclusive India
August 8, 2017Lashing out at the BJP, Patel tweeted:
BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror. People of Gujarat will give them a befitting reply in this year's election
August 8, 2017Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and Ahmed Patel elected to RS From Gujarat
BJP's Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and Congress's Ahmed Patel elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.
More Twist to the Tale: Counting of Votes Yet to Begin
The counting of votes in Gandhinagar is yet to begin as the BJP is now demanding that the counting be stalled till an investigation is done on Kotadiya's viral video.
BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya Says He Crossvoted
Dissolved GPP party MLA Nalin Kotadiya has released a video, claiming that he has not cast his vote in favor of the BJP.
Ahmed Patel Confident of Victory
“Appreciate the (EC's) decision. Quota will come down to 44. I am confident of getting it,” Congress' Ahmed Patel said.
Congress Workers Celebrate EC's Verdict
After the EC's verdict, Congress leaders celebrated in Gandhinagar.
Congress workers in Gandhinagar celebrate EC's verdict declaring votes of two Congress MLAs as invalid #GujaratRSPolls pic.twitter.com/sxCkDuLFCd
August 8, 2017Ahmed Patel Will Win, Says a Confident RS Surjewala
संविधान व चुनाव आयोग, व्यक्तियों व पदों से कहीं बड़े हैं।
August 8, 2017
चुनाव आयोग ने स्थापित की लोकतंत्र की गरिमा।
मेरा भारत महान।“Truth has emerged victorious in spite of BJP using all the power. Ahmed Patel will win,” RS Surjewala said after the Election Commission held the 2 rebel Congress MLAs votes invalid.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said BJP's attempts to win “by hook or by crook” have failed, and said he is confident the disqualification of two rebel MLAs will ensure party candidate Ahmed Patel will get his victory.
What Happens Now?
With two votes being held invalid, Ahmed Patel now needs 44 votes to win.
The votes will now be counted. However, the question that still remains is this – Does Patel have enough first preference votes to claim victory or could more Congress MLAs have ditched him?
Counting of Votes to Begin
The Election Commission has asked the Returning Officer to start counting of votes after segregating the disqualified votes in question.
2 Rebel Congress MLAs Votes Held Invalid By EC
The Election Commission declared that the 2 rebel Congress MLAs votes have been disqualified. The votes of Congress MLAs Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel have been held invalid.
JD(U) Sacks its Gujarat Unit Chief
Adding more twists to an already twisted Rajya Sabha election, JD(U) has sacked its Gujarat unit chief Arun Srivastava over discrepancies in JD(U)‘s votes.
Speaking to India Today, KC Tyagi said Chhotubhai Vasava has voted for the BJP and even showed it to the party observer. However, Chhotubhai maintained that he has voted for Ahmed Patel.
Did KC Tyagi vote? I did. I know I have voted for the CongressResults Expected Tonight: Sources
Quoting sources from the EC, CNN-News18 reported that the results for the Rajya Sabha seats will be announced tonight.
Congress Making a Third Round of EC
Congress leaders including RPN Singh and Randeep Surjewala going to the Election Commission for the third time.
EC Staying Overnight at HQ
The officers of the Election Commission will be staying at the headquarters overnight to find a solution to the issue that has halted the counting of votes. Packets of food were seen being delivered into the headquarters.
EC Must Follow Its Own Precedent: Congress
After having met the EC, top Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Randeep Surjewala told reporters that the Congress has asked the EC to follow its own precedent. Recalling similar incidents in the past where the EC had rejected ballots over similar violation of secrecy, Chidambaram said that EC will have to take the decision.
We have pointed out to them that there is videographed evidence to show that two Congress MLAs showed their ballot to somebody other than the polling agent. That is a violation of election rules. EC cannot follow anything, but its own precedent.Congress Making Desperate Attempts: BJP
Speaking to the media outside the EC office, Union Minister Ravi Shankar said that the Congress cannot cry foul on the basis of flimsy reasons when the ballot papers are sealed in the box.
We requested the EC to reject Congress' plea as once votes are cast, then nothing can be done. The process was fair. Once a ballot paper has been locked in the box, then how do we know about two lone votes. If they want, they can petition the court. Since the morning, Congress has been claiming victory. Now with defeat staring in their face they are making desperate attempts.Refuting the BJP's comments that Congress wasted six hours before complaining against the two rebel MLAs, Ahmed Patel said:
The complaint was filed immediately, but the returning officer didn't do anything. I'm very confident that the counting will take place.Congress leader Anand Sharma said that when in a similar situation a Congress MLA from Haryana had mistakenly showed his vote to somebody other than the polling agent, his vote was invalidated. Sharma said going by that past incident the rebel MLA's votes should also be made invalid.
Rebel MLAs Deny Wrongdoing, BJP Approaches EC
Raghavji Patel, the rebel MLA from Congress, denied flashing his ballot towards Amit Shah.
Addressing reporters, Arjun Modhwadia from Congress accused the BJP of pressurising the EC into not taking action against the two rebel MLAs from Congress.
The BJP is pressurising the EC, which is why what happened at 9:30 am is being addressed now. But the counting will take place today and Congress will emerge victorious.Responding to the Congress' allegation, top BJP leaders including Arun Jaitley, Piyush Goyal, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar have approached the EC.
Congress leaders including Anand Sharma and Randeep Surjewala will go to the Election Commission office shortly.
Top Congress Leaders Huddle Over RS Polls
Senior Congress leaders, including Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, are currently holding a meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Rahul Gandhi will not attend the Congress Working Committee meet as he is down with viral fever.
#WATCH Congress Working Committee meeting underway at Party HQ in Delhi pic.twitter.com/5w9MR4mZ1n
August 8, 2017Counting Will Resume After EC's Reply from Delhi
Gujarat Election Commission agrees to watch video recording of MLAs showing their ballots to Amit Shah. The Congress' complaints have been sent to the Election Commission in Delhi. The counting of votes will begin once the Delhi EC sends its reply on the matter.
Vasava Said He Voted for Congress as He is Unhappy With BJP's Work in Gujarat
The lone JD(U) MLA in Gujarat, Chhotu Vasava, today said he voted for Congress' nominee Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls as the ruling BJP has done little to nothing for tribal people and the poor.
Vasava represents a Scheduled Tribe from the reserved Jhagadia assembly seat in Bharuch district of south Gujarat.
The legislator, whose party recently forged ties with the BJP in Bihar, said he decided to vote for the Congress candidate as "he is unhappy with the ruling party's work for the poor and tribal population" that he represents.
BJP has ruled the state for 22 years, but has ignored the state's tribal areas which remain undeveloped as the government has done nothing for the poor and tribal population.Votes From Rebel Congress MLAs May be Considered Invalid
Sources from the EC say that the votes of the rebel Congress MLAs who flashed their ballots towards Amit Shah, going against the norms set by the Election Commission, may be rendered invalid.
JD(U) Leader Claims Fellow MLA Chhotubhai Voted for BJP, Not Patel
In a twist of events, JD(U) MLA KC Tyagi assured CNN-News18 that fellow JD(U) MLA Chhotubhai Vasava voted for the BJP and not Congress' Ahmed Patel.
His claims counter Chotubhai's words. In an interview to CNN-News18, Chhotubhai had clearly said that he had voted for Ahmed Patel. But later KC Tyagi told the news channel,
I know Chhotubhai. We have worked alongside him to know that when he gives his word he doesn't budge. I have full faith that Chhotubhai voted for the BJP.Counting Halted as Cong Seeks Disqualification of Two Rebel MLAs
The counting has been halted as the Congress accused two of its rebel MLAs of flashing their votes towards Amit Shah. As per the rules, after casting their votes, the MLAs are supposed to show it to the polling agents of their own party before dropping it into the ballot box.
Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavji Patel of the Vaghela faction reportedly showed their votes to Shaktisinh Gohil and then flashed them towards Amit Shah.
Congress Seeks Disqualification of Rebel MLAs Who Flashed Vote at Amit Shah
The Congress has officially lodged a complaint against two rebel MLAs from the Vaghela faction – Bholabhai Gohil and Raghavji Patel – who flashed their ballot papers at Amit Shah. The act reportedly has been captured on video. As per CNN-News18, the Election Commission hasn't accepted the complaint, in which case the Congress may take a legal recourse.
Speaking to the reporters, Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil said:
We have asked for the video because we object to the act. If a voter shows his vote to anyone other than party's authorised agent, then the vote gets rejected. There's so much pressure on the presiding officer but it is in our right to obtain a copy of the video. The Election Commission should take up the responsibility to deal with the issue.BJP MLA IK Jadeja issued a clarification on behalf of his party and said that the rebel MLAs actually voted for the former Congress leader, Balvantsinh Rajput, who has now joined the BJP.
Congress' Cross Voters Will be Suspended: Ashok Gehlot
The Congress on Tuesday said party legislators who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat will be suspended with immediate effect.
“Whoever has cross-voted will be suspended with immediate effect,” party General Secretary Ashok Gehlot told reporters.Gehlot, in charge of the Congress affairs in Gujarat, said this after legislators cross-voted in the crucial Rajya Sabha polls in which Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel is a candidate.
Ahmed Patel Might Win as 1 JD(U), 1 NCP, 1 GPP Vote for him
JD(U)‘s Chhotubhai Vasava confirmed that he has voted for Ahmed Patel. He denied the reports that he had voted for the BJP.
Earlier, one MLA from NCP and one from GPP had already voted for Patel.
Congress leaders have claimed that 43 out the 44 MLAs, who were in the resort, have voted for Patel. With other parties supporting Patel, he might muster up at least 45 votes that is required to win.
Read Rajya Sabha related stories on The Quint.
Confident of Victory of All Our Candidates: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani
Gujarat Chief Minister said that the party leaders have voted according to the whip issued, and he was confident of victory of all the BJP candidates. He said that both the NCP MLAs will be voting for the BJP candidates.
Confident That Party Will Win: Ahmed Patel
Assuring people that his party will win in the election, Congress candidate Ahmed Patel said, “When I am confident, the party is confident we are going to win. Wait for the result to come.”
Ashok Gehlot Claims Shankarsinh Vaghela's Was Under Pressure
Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that as many as eight MLAs have voted for the BJP. However, Ahmed Patel is still going to win, Gehlot added.
61 BJP MLAs and 43 Congress MLAs Have Cast Their Votes
A total of 61 BJP MLAs and 43 Congress MLAs have cast their votes so far in the Rajya Sabha election.
Congress MLA Dharshi Khanpura has cast his vote himself after the EC officer denied his proxy voting request.
Congress MLA Karmsinh Makwana Cross Votes
One Congress MLA Karamsinh Patel, who was part of the 44 legislators holed up in Bengaluru, has voted for the BJP candidate, The Times of India reported quoting sources.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Himmat Singh Patel said that one BJP MLA has voted for Congress.
Rebel Congress Leaders Vote for Balwantsinh Rajput
Former Congress leader, who quit the party recently, Raghavji Patel said that he voted for Balwantsinh Rajput. “I want to stay in politics but not in Congress,” he added.
Former Congress leader Dharmendra Jadeja also said that he voted for Balwantsinh Rajput.
Didn't Vote for Ahmed Patel: Vaghela
Refusing to disclose who he and his supporters vote for, Shankersinh Vaghela said that he would not choose NOTA.
He said that since Congress is not going to win, he didn't vote for Ahmed Patel. Vaghela's son Mahendrasinh Vaghela was seen touching the feet of Shah when he went inside.
Confusion Over NCP MLAs' Vote
The NCP MLAs - Kandhal Jadeja and Jayant Patel - came to vote in the early hours, but did not reveal their preference.
"You will come to know whom I voted for after voting is completed," Jadeja said.
On Monday, NCP leader Praful Patel had said that his legislators would vote for BJP. However, Gujarat CM said on Tuesday, “Given the support extended by the NCP, JD(U) and the fact that the Shankersinh Vaghela group will vote for Rajput, BJP's all three candidates are set to win.”
NCP leader Jayantbhai Patel says that he voted according to the whip issued by the high command, implying that he voted for the Congress candidate. After all we are the partner of UPA, he said.
Voting for Rajya Sabha Seats Begins as MLAs Reach the Assembly
Voting for the three seats begins.
BJP candidates Smriti Irani and Amit Shah reached Gujarat Assembly ahead of the polls. Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani also reached.
Voting to Begin at 9 am
The voting will begin at the Swarnim Sankul Bhawan of the Gujarat Assembly building at 9 am and continue till 4 pm. The results will be declared by 6 pm.
Gujarat MLAs Leader From Resort
Gujarat MLAs leave from Neejanand resort in Anand ahead of Rajya Sabha elections. The MLAs were seen making victory signal as they left the resort.
#WATCH: #Gujarat Congress MLAs leave Neejanand Resort in Anand showing victory sign, ahead of Rajya Sabha election voting. pic.twitter.com/Q0l86nyEJC
August 8, 2017Dealing a Blow to Congress, NCP Backs BJP
In a blow to the Congress in Gujarat and a further setback for Ahmed Patel's attempt to enter the Rajya Sabha for the fifth term, an NCP MLA said that he and his party colleague have been asked to vote for the BJP, as per an IANS report.
Nationalist Congress Party MLA Kandhal Jadeja told local TV that they had been asked by senior party leaders to vote for BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election. NCP leader Kandhal Jadeja said, as quoted by ANI:
Our party has asked us to support BJP in tomorrow's RS elections.The latest development muddies the situation for Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with the BJP all out to stymie his efforts in the biennial elections.
Patel, who needs 45 first preference votes in a House with an effective strength of 176 MLAs, earlier expressed confidence that he will win the election with the support of 44 party MLAs, and the backing of two NCP and a lone JD-U member.
A High Stakes Battle Amid Political Drama
The Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat slated for tomorrow has become a high-stakes battle for the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.
The elections to the upper house from the state, where assembly polls are due later this year, have received greater attention with BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani entering the fray and the Congress putting up its heavyweight Ahmed Patel.
The battle is set against the backdrop of dramatic political developments, including the revolt in the Congress by veteran leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, resignation of half-a- dozen party MLAs and shifting of 44 MLAs to Bengaluru to protect them from what the Congress has called "poaching" attempts.
Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, needs 45 votes to win. His party at present has support of 44 MLAs, who have returned to the state after camping in a resort near Bengaluru for over a week.
On their return this morning, they have been put up in a resort in Anand district. Even if none of them cross-votes or uses None of the Above (NOTA) option, the Congress will require one additional vote to ensure Patel's victory.
Four candidates are in the fray for the three vacancies to the upper house of Parliament. Apart from Shah and Irani, the BJP has fielded Balwantsinh Rajput, who recently quit the Congress and joined the ruling party.
The Congress is banking on the support of two NCP MLAs and one each of JD(U) and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP).
How the Numbers Look
Before Vaghela broke ranks, the Congress had 57 MLAs in the 182-member House. Six of its MLAs subsequently resigned bringing down the party's tally to 51 and the effective strength of the house to 176.
As per State Election Commission officials, a candidate requires one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes.
The EC officials said the MLAs have to give their preferential votes indicating first choice, second, third, fourth (as per number of candidates) or they can choose NOTA. The BJP with 121 MLAs in the House can easily get its two candidates elected.
But for the third candidate it has just 31 votes going by the party tally.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, however, expressed confidence that all the three BJP candidates will win.
Ahmed Patel Confident of Winning
Veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Monday expressed confidence of winning Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election despite accusing the Gujarat's ruling BJP of hatching a conspiracy against him.
In a rare appearance before the media, Patel said, "Besides the 44 legislators (who were flown to Bengaluru), we have the support of Janata Dal-United, Nationalist Congress Party and (rebel leader) Shankersinh Vaghela."
Asked about allegations of surveillance on him and Congress MLAs, he asserted that he was not surprised. "This is the example of a banana republic. I have full confidence in my victory tomorrow despite the BJP's attempts and the numbers will surprise everyone," Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, told reporters at a private resort near Anand where the 44 MLAs have been kept.
44 Gujarat MLAs Return From Karnataka
Forty-four Congress MLAs from Gujarat, who were flown to Karnataka to prevent "poaching" by the BJP ahead of Tuesday's Rajya Sabha elections, returned to the state on Monday, officials said.
The MLAs were moved to a private resort near Bengaluru on 29 July following the resignation of six Congress legislators.
Of the 57 party legislators in the 182-member Gujarat assembly, the six quit the party on 26 July and three of them joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on 28 July. Of the BJP's remaining 51 MLAs, seven did not join those who came to Bengaluru.
The 44 MLAs are being lodged at the Nijanand Resort near Anand. Their family members will visit the resort for the Raksha Bandhan festival on Monday.
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