Blow to Cong as 2 MLAs quit before Guj RS polls
Development turns June 19 polls into close contest
Ahead of Rajya Sabha elections on June 19, the Congress on Thursday suffered a jolt in Gujarat after two of its MLAs resigned. Akshay Patel and Jitu Chaudhary have tendered their resignations to the Speaker of the Assembly who has accepted them. The development has turned the Rajya Sabha election, due on June 19, into a close contest this time too.
There are four vacancies of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Had these MLAs not resigned, both the Congress and the BJP would have two seats each. But now, with these desertions from the Congress ranks, the BJP may win another extra seat, making it three-one.
To win a Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat a candidate needs the support of at least 34 MLAs. Since March, seven Congress MLAs have so far resigned. In the 182-member state Assembly, the ruling BJP has 103 MLAs
and the Opposition Congress now has 66 legislators.
Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi said Akshay Patel and Jitu Chaudhary met him on Wednesday evening. “I have accepted their resignations. They now cease to be the legislators,” the Speaker told reporters.
The Congress has accused the BJP of trying to break the Opposition party to win the Rajya Sabha polls.
Congress in-charge of Gujarat, Rajeev Satav said, “Gujarat has been one of the worst mismanaged states in dealing with the coronavirus crisis and instead of focusing on health infrastructure and helping people, they (the BJP) are focusing on buying MLAs.”
However, the ruling BJP dismissed the charge, saying MLAs were leaving the Congress as they were “unhappy” with the party leadership.
The Congress has faced a similar situation in 2017 when senior leader Ahmed Patel was contesting the election and 13 MLAs of the Congress had resigned. However, Mr Patel had won the election.
While the Congress has fielded two candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls — senior leaders Shaktisinh Gohil and Bharatsinh Solanki, the BJP has fielded three — Abhay Bhardwaj, Ramilaben Bara and Narhari Amin.