New Delhi:
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) suspended Rajasthan MLA Shobha Rani citing cross-voting in favour of Congress candidate Pramod Tiwari in Rajya Sabha elections. The disciplinary committee of the BJP also sought an explanation from Rani behind defying the party’s whip.
In a letter to the suspended Rajasthan Minister, the saffron party informed that an enquiry will be carried out with inputs from party’s Rajasthan unit including state president Satish Poonia.
If Rani fails to convince the disciplinary committee over her vote casted to the Congress candidate, she would be expelled from primary membership of the party.
Congress candidate Pramod Tiwari who was with 30 votes managed to win the third Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan after Rani voted for him.
The Congress won three Rajya Sabha seats in the elections in Rajasthan on Friday while the BJP bagged one seat.
Congress candidates had fielded Mukul Wasnik, Randeep Surjewala, and Pramod Tiwari while BJP’s Ghanshyam Tiwari and media baron Subhash Chandra, as an independent, were in the fray for four vacant seats. Citing fears of cross-voting, the Congress had sequestered its MLAs in a resort in Udaipur.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot alleged that the BJP attempted to indulge in horse trading but it did not succeed.
“As I had said, we will win all 3 seats. Everyone knew Congress had full votes and BJP did not. Then why did they even nominate candidates? This means they wanted to indulge in horse trading which could not happen here,” Gehlot said.
Polling took place for 16 vacant seats in Rajya Sabha in Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra on Friday.
(With inputs from ANI)
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