Political anxiety has risen in state as hours left for Rajya Sabha polls of four seats in Gujarat, there is considerable anxiety in both the BJP and Congress parties. While the Congress cannot rule out the possibility of cross-voting by some of its MLAs like in the 2017 RS election, the BJP is bothered by the likelihood of its MLAs casting invalid votes like the 2017 RS poll.
Eight Congress MLAs had cross-voted against the mandate and in favour of BJP candidates while one BJP MLA had cast an invalid vote in the 2017 election, which saw veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel win his RS seat with a wafer-thin margin.
Congress is already short of the required numbers to ensure outright wins for both of its candidates, senior party leaders admit that a few Congress MLAs could cross vote in favour of BJP candidates despite the fact that they have been showing solidarity with the Congress as of now.
BJP leader claimed that between three and five Congress MLAs will cross-vote in the election on Friday. “Although we have conducted intensive training for our MLAs, the fear of invalid votes remains. Even if there is no cross-voting by Congress MLAs, we will comfortably win three seats on the basis of second preference votes,” the leader said.
While the Congress has fielded its senior leaders Shaktisinh Gohil and Bharatsinh Solanki, the ruling BJP has nominated Abhay Bhardwaj, Ramilaben Bara and Narhari Amin as its candidates for the polls, in which MLAs will vote.
Political anxiety rises in Gujarat ahead of 4 seats Rajya Sabha polls
