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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Mar 23, 2018, 10:13 PM IST
In just nine days, the BJP on Friday avenged its humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha by-polls on two prestigious seats in Gorakhpur and Phulpur by wresting the crucial tenth Rajya Sabha seat from the joint opposition supported BSP candidate Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.
Anil Agarwal, who was BJP’s ninth candidate, defeated BSP’s Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar after counting of second preferential votes. Dr Ambedkar got only 32 votes. The BJP and the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath finally succeeded in avenging by-poll defeats by wresting the tenth seat from BSP for supporting the SP in Gorakhpur and Phulpur.
Earlier, counting of votes for Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh was delayed for two hours. Counting started after clearance from the Election Commission. Samajwadi Party, and BSP had approached Election Commission to register their complaints against lawmakers who cross-voted. BSP, and SP have alleged that those who cross-voted did not disclose their ballots to the counting agents of the respective parties. Following this, the counting was put on hold for two hours in Uttar Pradesh, but now the counting has begun. According to reports, EC didn't find anything objectionable in the CCTV footage.
Voting for remaining 25 seats of Rajya Sabha took place on Friday in six states including Uttar Pradesh. Counting of ballots was scheduled to start at 5 pm, an hour after the end of voting.
Besides UP, polling for the remaining 25 seats took place in West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
BSP MLA Anil Singh indicated that he had cross-voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls, saying "I am with Maharaj-ji", referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Deputy leader of the BSP Legislature Party Uma Shankar Singh said he cannot be sure that Anil Singh had voted for the BSP candidate Bhimrao Ambedkar.
The Unnao MLA's vote could be crucial as it gives BJP the edge in getting a ninth Rajya Sabha seat from Uttar Pradesh. It is already assured of eight seats on the basis of its strength in the Assembly.
Anil Singh said he had cast his vote and showed it to BSP agent Lalji Verma and the rest could be known from him.
"I have cast my vote after showing it to Lalji Verma and he will tell you the details...I am with Maharaj- ji (Adityanath)," he said after voting at the Tilak Hall in the Assembly complex.
BJP is expected to better its numbers in the Rajya Sabha but will still fall short of the majority in the 245-strong House.
Follow live updates
BJP candidates Arun Jaitley, Anil Jain, and GVL Narasimha Rao have won from Uttar Pradesh.
I am very happy to have received the maximum number of votes. Happy with the trust shown in me. It is an honor for me to serve Karnataka & serve my city Bengaluru: Rajeev Chandrashekhar of BJP after winning Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka.
Naseer Hussain of Congress has also won from Karnataka.
It' an important responsibility. We'll take up debates & discussions very seriously. We'll live up to expectation of national & state leadership. We'll also live up to the expectations of people of state: Naseer Hussain, Congress after winning #RajyasSabhaElection from Karnataka pic.twitter.com/OwL4sioJzc
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Telangana Rashtra Samithi's (TRS) B. Prakash, J. Santosh Kumar and AB. Lingaiah Yadav have won, reports ANI.
One vote each of BSP and BJP held invalid during the counting. Observers have kept both ballot papers aside for final examination.
#UPDATE: Election Commission has rejected the complaint against Jharkhand Vikas Morcha MLA Prakash Ram after reviewing the video. It was alleged that he did not show his ballot paper to the party's authorised representative after casting vote. #RajyaSabhaElections
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Result for all the five Rajya Sabha seats are out. TMC has won four seats and Congress has emerged the winner on one seat.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shows victory sign following #rajyasabhaelections results pic.twitter.com/yqeRgquALa
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Counting of votes for Rajya Sabha elections has begun after clearance from the Election Commission. Samajwadi Party, and BSP had approached Election Commission to register their complaints against lawmakers who cross-voted. BSP, and SP have alleged that those who cross-voted did not disclose their ballots to the counting agents of the respective parties. Following this, the counting was put on hold in Uttar Pradesh, but now the counting has begun.
Meanwhile, Congress Abhishek Manu Singhvi wins Rajya Sabha elections from West Bengal.
Congress Abhishek Manu Singhvi wins Rajya Sabha elections from West Bengal, says, 'it is humbling and uplifting, it is a result of cooperation between different groups and MLAs.' pic.twitter.com/abs8Ym5NBv
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Counting of votes for Rajya Sabha elections has begun after clearance from the Election Commission. Samajwadi Party, and BSP had approached Election Commission to register their complaints against lawmakers who cross-voted. BSP, and SP have alleged that those who cross-voted did not disclose their ballots to the counting agents of the respective parties. Following this, the counting was put on hold in Uttar Pradesh, but now the counting has begun.
Meanwhile, Congress Abhishek Manu Singhvi wins Rajya Sabha elections from West Bengal.
Congress Abhishek Manu Singhvi wins Rajya Sabha elections from West Bengal, says, 'it is humbling and uplifting, it is a result of cooperation between different groups and MLAs.' pic.twitter.com/abs8Ym5NBv
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Counting of votes for Rajya Sabha elections has begun after clearance from the Election Commission. Samajwadi Party, and BSP had approached Election Commission to register their complaints against lawmakers who cross-voted. BSP, and SP have alleged that those who cross-voted did not disclose their ballots to the counting agents of the respective parties. Following this, the counting was put on hold in Uttar Pradesh, but now the counting has begun.
Meanwhile, Congress Abhishek Manu Singhvi wins Rajya Sabha elections from West Bengal.
Congress Abhishek Manu Singhvi wins Rajya Sabha elections from West Bengal, says, 'it is humbling and uplifting, it is a result of cooperation between different groups and MLAs.' pic.twitter.com/abs8Ym5NBv
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has won from West Bengal, say media reports.
Trinamool Congress candidate Abir Ranjan Biswas has won Rajya Sabha seat.
I am at the seventh heaven of delight. This is the brain child of CM Mamata didi. I am very hopeful that I will live up to her expectations: Abir Ranjan Biswas, TMC after winning the Rajya Sabha seat. #RajyaSabhaElections #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/ZEhbYQyFQr
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Just like Uttar Pradesh, Counting of votes in Karnataka has not started as yet because Janata Dal (Secular) had complained to EC about some discrepancy. Janata Dal has boycotted the voting now, so that will also enhance our chances of victory, says Congress leader G Parameshwara.
Counting of votes has not started as yet because Janata Dal had complained to EC about some discrepancy. Janata Dal has boycotted the voting now, so that will also enhance our chances of victory: G. Parameshwara, Congress #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/3Cv5Z61D5Z
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Counting of votes has been put on hold in Uttar Pradesh as BSP and SP have raised objections. Counting will start only after permission is granted by the Election Commission.
Meanwhile, BJP's Saroj Pandey has won from Chhattisgarh.
.@BJP4India @SarojPandeyBJP । pic.twitter.com/CGi9HB7UPl
— BJP Chhattisgarh (@BJP4CGState) March 23, 2018
Karnataka: Two senior Congress leaders cross voted in the first ballot paper. Returning officer allowed them to vote again in fresh ballot paper. Illegal voting is going on, requested EC Observer to counter mandate the process: HD Kumaraswamy, JDS
Voting underway at #Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly in Raipur for one #RajyaSabha seat from the state pic.twitter.com/zOPhUvXZBP
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
Voting underway at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru for four #RajyaSabha seats from #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/dwKsAPwwDc
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018
BJP will win all the nine Rajya Sabha seats where we have fielded our candidates. Nine more BJP candidates will make entry to Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh this time: Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya
There will be no cross-voting, but yes BJP MLAs will cross-vote in our favour: Ram Gopal Yadav, SP
West Bengal MLAs queue up at the state assembly to cast their votes
Allahabad HC bars Mukhtar Ansari from voting in RS polls
The Allahabad High Court on Friday barred jailed Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mukhtar Ansari from voting in the Rajya Sabha (RS) elections. Ansari is the prime accused in the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Krishnanand Rai, among other crimes, and has pleaded not guilty.
Candidates in fray
Uttar Pradesh: Besides Jaitley, the others in the fray are Ashok Bajpai, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Sakal Deep Rajbhar, Kanta Kardam, Anil Jain, Harnath Singh Yadav, GVL Narasimha Rao and Anil Kumar Agarwal.
West Bengal: Altogether six candidates, including Congress nominee Abhisek Manu Singhvi, are in the fray. The state's ruling TMC has decided to back the eminent lawyer.
Karnataka: Five candidates are in the electoral arena for four seats. The state's ruling Congress has fielded three nominees, while there are one each of the BJP and JD(S).
Jharkhand: Elections will also be held for two seats in where three candidates are in the fray, including two of the state's ruling BJP and one of the Congress.
Chhattisgarh: One candidate each of the ruling BJP and main opposition Congress will cross swords for the lone seat.
Telangana: Four candidates will try their luck.
Uttar Pradesh
The SP and the BSP also appeared sure of win one seat each.
The SP has fielded Jaya Bachchan and the BSP Bhimrao Ambedkar. With 19 MLAs, the BSP is short of 18 first preference votes and with Naresh Agarwal's son Nitin, who is still an SP MLA, likely to cross-vote for the BJP, the task will become difficult for the candidate of the Mayawati-led party.
Riding on the new bonhomie with the SP, Mayawati is banking on the 10 surplus votes of Akhilesh Yadav's party, besides seven votes of the Congress and one of RLD to reach the magic figure of 37 votes.
In Uttar Pradesh, BJP is virtually assured of 8 of the 10 seats amid suspense whether it can snatch an extra seat in the light of the newfound bonhomie between former arch rivals SP and BSP.
The four-MLA strong Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), after being placated by BJP chief Amit Shah, and the Apna Dal (Sonelal) with nine MLAs have decided to vote for BJP nominees.
In all there are 11 candidates in the fray for the 10 seats.
The BJP and its allies have 324 MLAs in the 403-member Assembly after the death of its Noorpur MLA in a road accident recently.
To secure a win, a candidate needs 37 first preference votes.
