Cross-voting impacted Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand and Legislative Council polls in Karnataka. While NDA gained in Jharkhand, Congress outmaneuvered BJP in Karnataka. Both parties exhibit double standards regarding cross-voting.
The BJP-led NDA has won 19 of 26 Rajya Sabha seats, increasing its strength to 150. The alliance is now 13 seats short of a two-thirds majority, with potential further gains from TMC and AAP splits. Opposition INDIA bloc secured six seats.
The BJP claims the ruling alliance in Jharkhand is fractured following a Congress defeat in Rajya Sabha polls, attributing it to cross-voting and alleging 'loot and corruption' by the bloc. Alliance partners are exchanging accusations of betrayal and being 'sold out'.
An NDA-backed independent candidate, Parimal Nathwani, secured a Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand, defeating Congress's nominee and exposing cracks within the INDIA bloc. In Mizoram, the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) comfortably won the state's lone Upper House seat.
Naresh Gujral, son of former PM I.K. Gujral, lost Rs 7.8 crore to cyber fraudsters who impersonated him on a messaging app and manipulated employee phone records. Delhi Police froze Rs 4 crore and are pursuing further recovery.
The Congress nominee for a Rajya Sabha seat in Jharkhand, Pranav Jha, lost the election to NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, despite the Congress having the required number of MLAs. Allegations of betrayal and cross-voting have surfaced among INDIA bloc allies.
The Congress candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat in Jharkhand lost the election despite having the support of the required 28 MLAs. NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani secured 28 votes, while Congress nominee Pranav Jha received only 20. The defeat has triggered a blame game among INDIA bloc allies, with Congress accusing RJD and CPI-ML of betrayal, charges they deny.
Congress nominee Pranav Jha lost a crucial Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand despite having the support of 28 MLAs. NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani secured 30 votes, while Jha received only 20. The defeat has triggered a blame game among INDIA bloc allies, with Congress accusing RJD and CPI-ML of betrayal, charges they deny.
CPI(ML) Liberation and RJD denied cross-voting in Jharkhand Rajya Sabha elections, stating their MLAs voted for Congress. They blamed Congress's internal issues for the loss and warned against damaging the INDIA bloc by shifting blame.
NDA-backed Independent Parimal Nathwani secured one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand, defeating Congress candidate Pranav in a close contest. The ruling JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram won the other seat. The election saw cross-voting and invalid votes, leading to accusations of betrayal from the Congress.
Jharkhand's Rajya Sabha elections are set for a close contest as the INDIA bloc, with 56 MLAs, faces a challenge from the BJP-backed independent candidate Parimal Nathwani, who needs just 4 cross-votes to potentially upset the ruling coalition's expected win of two seats. Both camps are employing 'hotel politics' and mock polls to ensure MLA unity and prevent cross-voting, reminiscent of recent upsets in Bihar and Odisha.
With Jharkhand's Rajya Sabha elections on June 18, political parties are housing their MLAs in hotels to prevent defections. The NDA supports an independent candidate, while the INDIA alliance fields its own candidates.
CPI(M) leader MA Baby criticized Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's comments at the INDIA bloc meeting, stating Gandhi should not facilitate ED/Modi govt actions by demanding opposition arrests, rather than hugging political rivals like Pinarayi Vijayan.
The Supreme Court dismissed Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan's plea challenging the rejection of her Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh, citing a settled principle that election disputes cannot be entertained after the poll process begins.
The Supreme Court dismissed a plea by Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan challenging the rejection of her Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh. The court stated that election disputes cannot be challenged during the election process and must be raised through election petitions after the process concludes, citing constitutional mandate.
The Supreme Court dismissed Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan's plea challenging the rejection of her Rajya Sabha nomination, directing her to seek remedy from the Election Commission. The rejection, due to alleged non-disclosure of a criminal case, led to the BJP winning all three vacant Rajya Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh.
The Supreme Court refused to stay the declaration of Rajya Sabha election results in Madhya Pradesh but agreed to hear Meenakshi Natarajan's plea challenging her candidature rejection on Friday.
BJP candidates Tarun Chugh, Rajneesh Agarwal, and Mahesh Kewat were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in Madhya Pradesh after Congress nominee Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination was rejected. The Congress is appealing to the Supreme Court.
Trinamool Congress MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Rajya Sabha, stating the West Bengal mandate favored the BJP. He is the third TMC MP to quit this week, amid growing dissent and electoral setbacks for the party.
Congress Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natarajan has approached the Supreme Court after her nomination papers for the Madhya Pradesh elections were rejected. The SC will hear her plea but refused to stay results. BJP had objected to her nomination citing a pending case.
TMC MP Prakash Chik Baraik has resigned from the Rajya Sabha, marking the third resignation from the party in a week. This comes amid growing internal rifts and speculation about mergers, which rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee has denied.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik resigned on Thursday, becoming the third party member to quit the Upper House amid growing unrest. His resignation follows similar moves by Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Sushmita Dev, deepening concerns about dissent within the party.
Congress has urged the Election Commission to overturn a returning officer's order rejecting Rajya Sabha nominee Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination form, stating no criminal case is pending against her and the order is unlawful.
Congress shifts MLAs to Karnataka to prevent cross-voting in Rajya Sabha polls, alleging BJP poaching attempts with 'bags of notes'
