Amit Shah, Ahmed Patel battle it out in Gujarat RS poll; voting begins

In a political battle between the two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition Congress, Gujarat on Tuesday will witness one of the most awaited Rajya Sabha election.

There are three Rajya Sabha vacancies from Gujarat but there are four candidates in the fray — three from the BJP and one from the Congress. BJP President Amit Shah, one of the four contestants for the three vacant seats will stand against Ahmed Patel from Congress.

From the BJP, party’s national president Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and former Congress MLA turned-BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput are in the race while political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, is the Congress candidate seeking a fifth term.

As per the current strength of the Gujarat Assembly each candidate requires a minimum of 45 votes to win. With the BJP having 121 seats out of the 182 seats its two candidates Shah and Irani will win smoothly. But it is going to be a contest between Patel and Rajput.

The Congress had transported its 44 MLAs to the party-ruled Karnataka fearing defections. Eight of the 57 MLAs of the Congress have resigned from the party; this includes former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela and his son.

Presently the MLAs are back in Gujarat and are in a resort in Anand. Congress candidate Ahmed Patel speaking to reporters in Anand said, “I am confident of winning the Rajya Sabha seat. All the MLAs are with me despite the BJP trying to break the MLAs.”

He also added that “I have just got word that two NCP MLAs will also be voting for me.” Reports further suggest that the lone JD(U) legislator will be extending support to Patel.

Hitting back at the Congress, the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, “BJP will win all the three seats and Ahmed Patel will definitely lose.”

The voting would be held from 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesday.

The counting will be held from 5 pm, an hour after the end of polling.

The election has been necessitated following the completion of the tenures of three existing members - Union minister Smriti Irani, Dilip Pandya of BJP and Ahmed Patel of Congress.

Congress needs the support of 45 MLAs for victory of Patel who is contesting for his fifth term for the Upper House.

In 182 member assembly, BJP has 122 seats including dissident Nalin Kotadiya.

While, Congress has 51 MLAs along with 7 of Shankarinh Vaghela's camp. NCP has 2 and JD U has 1 MLA in the house.

Tags: rajya sabha poll, gujarat rajya sabha, congress, bjp