Rajya Sabha Election 2024: BJP Wins RS Polls In Himachal, Bags 8 Out Of 10 Seats In UP

BJP leaders and workers raised slogans and celebrated in Lucknow as all eight candidates of the party from the state won in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Uttar Pradesh BJP MLC Mohsin Raza said, “We knew that this would be the result. BJP was confident that we would win all 8 seats. I don’t understand why the Opposition was dejected because they did not have to win. Ye 8 nahi, 80 ki tayyari hai (this is a preparation to win 80 seats in the Lok Sabha polls) We are going to win 80 after this. We will win 400 in the Lok Sabha elections.”

Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM KP Maurya congratulated the winning candidates from his state and said, “I congratulate all the winners. I also congratulate the two nominees of Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party.”

BJP workers celebrate the victory of BJP candidates in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP has won eight out of 10 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh, while Samajwadi Pardi won two seats.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak said, “I have already said that all 8 candidates of the BJP are winning with a thumping majority. They have the blessings of MLAs of all parties. The result will be out within half an hour…Opposition is disheartened, the kind of allegations they are levelling is not acceptable in a democracy.”

Speaking about cross-voters, Congress candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, “I would also like to thank the nine persons (MLAs) because they have taught me a lot about human nature, its fickleness or its resoluteness. They supped with us. So, I think we are bad judges of human character, they are better judges of human character.”

Responding to speculations about BJP bringing a not-trust motion against him, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, “We will see when the assembly session commences. Those who have gone (cross-voted) are being asked by their families why they did this. So, if the families are asking them, then maybe a few of them would think about ‘ghar wapasi’”

Addressing a press conference in the state assembly premises, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu spoke about the buzz about Congress legislators cross-voting for the BJP. He said, “They were swearing loyalty to us till morning. Out of nine of them, 6 Congress MLAs cross-voted. They sold their integrity.”

Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who lost the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh to BJP’s Harsh Mahajan, said, “The message here is that they’ll (BJP) do shamelessly what is not permitted in the law. This change that has come here is unfortunate for India and Himachal. If this is the definition of new India then I prefer old India.”

“BJP Should introspect. When a minority party declares a nominee against a majority party. They will do things illegally,” he added.

Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who lost the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh to BJP’s Harsh Mahajan, said, “I thank the present and former Cong chiefs for having reposed faith in me. They sent me to Himachal out of good faith and I am truly grateful. I also thank all 9 MLAs, who were with us till yesterday.”

Himachal Pradesh LoP Jairam Thakur said, “We are rightly saying that looking at this victory, the Himachal Pradesh CM should resign from his position. The MLAs have left him just within a year.”

Himachal Pradesh LoP Jairam Thakur said, “Despite having such a huge majority, Congress lost the Rajya Sabha seat. I congratulate Harsh Mahajan once again.”

Himachal Pradesh BJP leader Jairam Thakur said there was a tie between the Congress and BJP candidates and both received 34 votes. He said a tie-breaker was employed and the BJP candidate won by toss.

BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan has won the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh.

Expressing happiness about party candidates bagging three seats from Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha polls, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “Karnataka has spoken clearly that money and muscle power will not work, only democratic power will work.”

As counting for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh is underway, state Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Tuesday alleged that CRPF and Haryana Police convoy have taken away five to six Congress MLAs and urged the Himachal BJP leaders to have patience and not to threaten polling officers.

After winning from Karnataka, Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain said, “This was an expected victory. We had enough votes to win all three seats. We got more votes for these three seats. This is an important victory ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.”

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, “The manner in which the counting has begun and Opposition leaders are threatening the polling officials again and again is not right for democracy. They had halted the counting for long. I urge the Himachal BJP unit’s leaders to have patience. Don’t put pressure on people. CRPF and Haryana Police convoy have taken away 5-6 MLAs. I can say that the people who have gone away are being contacted by their families, I urge them to contact their families. There is no need to worry.”

Expressing happiness on party candidates bagging three Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka, state Congress chief DK Shivakumar said, “This shows the unity and integrity of Congress. I thank all the MLAs, party workers and the media. I’m very happy to inform you that all Congress candidates have won.”

While the ruling Congress won three seats from Karnataka, the main Opposition, BJP, won one seat.

Kupendra Reddy, BJP and JD(S) alliance candidate has been defeated in Karnataka. He got 37 votes.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said around six MLAs from his party had gone incommunicado. He said the BJP kidnapped the legislators.

Several Himachal Pradesh legislators, mostly from Congress and independent ones, have reached the PWD Rest House in Haryana’s Panchkula, Sector 1, sources said.

According to reports, Sector 1’s PWD Rest House has been completely closed for commoners and reporters.

BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur rubbished Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s claims of his party kidnapping Congress MLAs and said nobody can buy MLAs.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the BJP had kidnapped Congress MLAs.

The ruling Congress party in Karnataka registered victory on three seats in the Rajya Sabha polls, while the BJP managed to secure a win on one seat. All three Congress candidates from Karnataka, Ajay Maken, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain and GC Chandrashekhar registered victories in the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday. Ajay Maken got 47 votes, while both Dr Syed Naseer Hussain and GC Chandrashekhar received a total of 46 votes each. Meanwhile, BJP candidate Narayanasa Bhandage also won the Rajya Sabha polls.

As the counting of votes for the Rajya Sabha polls was underway at a booth in Shimla, people continued to gather outside it waiting for the results.

Congress MLAs could be shifted out later amid speculations of cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha election in Himachal Pradesh, a Congress source said.

Amid speculations of cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha election in Himachal Pradesh, former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel reached Shimal.

BJP MLA S T Somashekar voted for Congress during the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka. Somashekar, who is upset with the BJP and had been rebellious against the party, voted in favour of the Congress candidate.

“We have got the information that Somashekar has done cross-voting. I believe that people do not like cheating now and then,” the Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said.

The counting of votes for the Rajya Sabha election in Himachal Pradesh was stopped after a complaint by the BJP.

As the polling for the Rajya Sabha elections ended in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, the counting of votes has started in the three states.

Polling for the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections has ended for the lone seat from Himachal Pradesh amid reports of cross-voting in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The results will be declared in the evening.

Meanwhile, sources said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might bring a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in the state if its candidate wins.

According to reports, if the Congress candidate loses, it can be inferred that at least nine MLAs cross-voted. In such a situation, if the BJP candidate wins, the party will bring a no-confidence motion against the Congress government.

Speaking about his resignation as Samajwadi Party Chief Whip, Manoj Kumar Pandey said, “The people have given me a chance to vote many times… If one is in politics, one has to bear all kinds of blame. I have been nominated for the people, and I will think only about my people.”

Speaking on cross-votes in the Rajya Sabha elections, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, “I have not seen it. It is a secret ballot vote. In the state, this alliance cannot go well. BJP had 65 votes or something, they could have got 45 and their candidate elected. They have taken 48 votes which shows that BJP legislators are not interested in voting for JD(S). BJP legislators do not want to vote for JD(S), hence out of 45, they have taken 48 votes.”

General Secretary of Samajwadi Party Ram Gopal Yadav said, “Our candidates have won, they have got 102 votes… It’s completely fine if someone is choosing to leave our party.”

In a major setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka, party MLA ST Somashekar has Cross-voted in the ongoing Rajya Sabha elections which are being conducted for four seats on Tuesday, BJP chief whip in the state Assembly, Doddanagouda G. Patil said.

Polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, which began at 9 am on Tuesday, ended with Congress MLA from Chintpurni Sudershan Babloo casting the last vote.

The polling was brisk and all 68 members voted. Independent MLA from Hamipur Ashish was the first to cast his vote.

Harsh Mahajan, BJP’s Rajya Sabha candidate from Himachal Pradesh said, ” BJP made me their candidate, it is my luck. I want to thank PM Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda. As per the statement of Congress right now, it seems they have lost their mind, This is happening because their government has failed so their MLAs and people are upset with them.”