Our MLAs showed unity, BJP will face defeat in ‘23: CM

Jaipur: Amid the political drama played out by the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election wherein the saffron party’s state unit claimed of getting support from independent legislators, a mastermind strategist and experienced campaigner Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ensured a ‘befitting reply’ to BJP and its claims by ensuring victory of Congress’ three candidates in the RS polls on Friday.

Congress had fielded Pramod Tiwari, Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Surjewala in the fray and BJP tried to create a ‘disturbance’ in the ruling party. However before Gehlot’s ‘management’ BJP could not move beyond the one seat mark.

Meanwhile, tweeting on the ‘smooth sailing’, Gehlot said post results, “Congress’ victory in three Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan is a victory for democracy. I congratulate all the three newly elected MPs - Pramod Tiwari, Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Surjewala. I am sure that all the three MPs will be able to firmly defend the rights of Rajasthan in Delhi. It was clear from the beginning that the Congress had the required majority for all three seats. But BJP tried horse trading by fielding an independent. The solidarity of our MLAs has given a befitting reply to this effort. The BJP will face a similar defeat in the 2023 assembly elections as well.”

Interestingly, as soon as the voting for RS election began on Friday, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot challenged the BJP and said, “I will say that we are winning all three seats comfortably. They should take care of their home. The way BJP fielded another candidate, it was not liked by the MLAs of their own party. What was the point of fielding another candidate engaging in unnecessary horse trading? There is a reaction to this in the entire state. unnecessary they hyped the elections, otherwise on the four seats, 3 were ours, 1 was of BJP. No one likes such act.”

MLA Mordia’s vote was rejected...

With one vote being crossed over by the BJP, even one vote from the Congress camp was rejected which was polled for Mukul Wasnik as Congress MLA had put a tick instead of writing the number in front of Wasnik. It is believed to be of MLA Parasram Mordia. It is worth mentioning that Mordia did not even go into the badabandi in Udaipur. 127 MLAs voted in favour of Congress while one vote was rejected. In this way all the 3 candidates got 126 votes. Randeep Surjewala got 43 votes, Mukul Wasnik got 42 votes and Pramod Tiwari got 41 votes. Ghanshyam Tiwari got 43 votes, while pro-BJP independent candidate Subhash Chandra got 30 votes falling short by 11 votes to secure a win. Dr Chandra got only 27 votes out of 30 of BJP.

After the victory, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik interacted with the media and expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Gehlot and PCC Chief Govind Singh Dotasara along with all supporting MLAs.

While, Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala said, “We will raise the issues related to the people of the state in Parliament. BJP made many conspiracies but truth has prevailed.”

PCC Chief Dotasara said on the victory, “Good governance wins.” Meanwhile, later in the evening Mukul Wasnik, Randeep Surjewala, Pramod Tiwari visited Chief Minister’s residence where a dinner was held will be held after the victory.