The first results in the Rajya Sabha elections to 18 seats across five states being held today are in. Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Ram Kripal Yadav of the RJD and RP Singh of the Janata Dal have won in Bihar. The official announcement will be made only in the evening. Paswan, a former Union Minister, will heave a sigh of relief, having been out in the cold ever since he lost the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. There was cross-voting in Bihar, with two BSP MLAs voting for the RJD and one BSP MLA voting for the JD(U).
All eyes have been on the four seats in Rajasthan, where the Congress and the BJP have accused each other of horse-trading. Elections are also being held to four seats in Karnataka, three in Orissa and two in Jharkhand. Forty-nine seats in 12 states were to be vacated in the Upper House, but 21 Rajya Sabha MPs of various parties have already been elected unopposed. (Watch: Bitter battle in Rajasthan)
| Rajya Sabha Elections: State-wise seats | ||
| Bihar | 5 | |
| Rajasthan | 4 | |
| Karnataka | 4 | |
| Orissa | 3 | |
| Jharkhand | 2 | |
Some of the other big names who are in the fray today are:
Ram Jethmalani, fielded by the BJP in Rajasthan, Vijay Mallya, who is contesting as an Independent in Karnataka, f
ormer BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu in Karnataka, Oscar Fernandes of the Congress in Karnataka, and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma of the Congress in Rajasthan. (RS Polls: Heavyweights in pics)
Ram Jethmalani, fielded by the BJP in Rajasthan, Vijay Mallya, who is contesting as an Independent in Karnataka, former BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu in Karnataka, Oscar Fernandes of the Congress in Karnataka, and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma of the Congress in Rajasthan. (RS Polls: Heavyweights in pics)
The most interesting battle is that of Ram Jethmalani, a rank outsider contesting for the BJP. Partymen in Rajasthan are not very convinced and the BJP has had to lock up its 79 MLAs in a luxury resort to stop them from cross-voting. BJP MLAs have objected to Jethmalani's candidature for his having defended Parliament-attack-accused Afzal Guru. The 86-year-old Jethmalani was seen canvassing hard with the locked-up MLAs. The BJP may need the support of some independents to see Jethmalani through.(Read: Rajya Sabha elections:Key battles)
It is Rajasthan that has thrown up all the action usually not associated with the genteel process of electing Elders. As charges of horsetrading fly, the BJP held two full dress rehearsals on Wednesday for all its MLAs to cast their votes properly. Adding to the party's woes, at least five MLAs goofed up in casting their vote during the training session. The electoral arithmetic in Rajasthan is such that even a single vote miscast can spell doom for the BJP.
Several BJP MLAs, locked up in a resort since Monday, have accused not just the ruling Congress, but also bureaucrats, of telephoning them to switch sides.
Vijay Bansal, the BJP MLA from Bharatpur says, "Bureaucrats have been ringing us asking us to talk to the Chief Minister. They say all our work will be done in the future and if our party expels us, they will get us a Congress ticket in the next elections. Adds Hanuman Beniwal, the BJP's Nagaur MLA, "the Congress chaps are trying to tempt us with money, others are offering us election ticket in the future."
Rubbish, says the Congress. "For the past three-four days all that we are hearing is that the BJP has locked up all its MLAs like a herd. This shows that they have no trust in their own MLAs. What can be more unfortunate than this mistrust?" asks Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
But beyond the words and the bluster, with discontentment over candidates in each party, both camps are tense.
In Rajasthan, Congressman Santosh Bagrodia is contesting as an Independent. The Congress does not have the votes to send him to Rajya Sabha and the BJP alleges he is trying to poach and get elected.
Also in Rajasthan, Anand Sharma is the only central minister who is having to battle for his Rajya Sabha seat. Sharma belongs to Haryana and has been politically active in Himachal Pradesh. The Rajasthan Congress, which views him as an outsider, is unhappy at him being fielded from the state.
In Karnataka, Vijay Mallya looks set to win with the help of the BJP, which has votes to spare after ensuring its two men, including former party President M Venkaiah Naidu, are through. The Karnataka CM Yedyurappa and a section of the BJP are said to be extremely unhappy at the deal struck with Mallya as friend-turned-foe JD(S) is backing him too. (Watch: Vijay Mallya on BJP support | High stakes battle in Karnataka)
The most interesting battle is that of Ram Jethmalani, a rank outsider contesting for the BJP. Partymen in Rajasthan are not very convinced and the BJP has had to lock up its 79 MLAs in a luxury resort to stop them from cross-voting. BJP MLAs have objected to Jethmalani's candidature for his having defended Parliament-attack-accused Afzal Guru. The 86-year-old Jethmalani was seen canvassing hard with the locked-up MLAs. The BJP may need the support of some independents to see Jethmalani through.(Read: Rajya Sabha elections:Key battles)It is Rajasthan that has thrown up all the action usually not associated with the genteel process of electing Elders. As charges of horsetrading fly, the BJP held two full dress rehearsals on Wednesday for all its MLAs to cast their votes properly. Adding to the party's woes, at least five MLAs goofed up in casting their vote during the training session. The electoral arithmetic in Rajasthan is such that even a single vote miscast can spell doom for the BJP.
Several BJP MLAs, locked up in a resort since Monday, have accused not just the ruling Congress, but also bureaucrats, of telephoning them to switch sides.
Vijay Bansal, the BJP MLA from Bharatpur says, "Bureaucrats have been ringing us asking us to talk to the Chief Minister. They say all our work will be done in the future and if our party expels us, they will get us a Congress ticket in the next elections. Adds Hanuman Beniwal, the BJP's Nagaur MLA, "the Congress chaps are trying to tempt us with money, others are offering us election ticket in the future."
Rubbish, says the Congress. "For the past three-four days all that we are hearing is that the BJP has locked up all its MLAs like a herd. This shows that they have no trust in their own MLAs. What can be more unfortunate than this mistrust?" asks Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
But beyond the words and the bluster, with discontentment over candidates in each party, both camps are tense.
In Rajasthan, Congressman Santosh Bagrodia is contesting as an Independent. The Congress does not have the votes to send him to Rajya Sabha and the BJP alleges he is trying to poach and get elected.
Also in Rajasthan, Anand Sharma is the only central minister who is having to battle for his Rajya Sabha seat. Sharma belongs to Haryana and has been politically active in Himachal Pradesh. The Rajasthan Congress, which views him as an outsider, is unhappy at him being fielded from the state.In Karnataka, Vijay Mallya looks set to win with the help of the BJP, which has votes to spare after ensuring its two men, including former party President M Venkaiah Naidu, are through. The Karnataka CM Yedyurappa and a section of the BJP are said to be extremely unhappy at the deal struck with Mallya as friend-turned-foe JD(S) is backing him too. (Watch: Vijay Mallya on BJP support | High stakes battle in Karnataka)
