Gujarat RS election turns into a high-stakes battle: Key developments

In the 182 member Gujarat Assembly, the strength of the Congress has gone down to 51 from 57.

The Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat slated for Tuesday has become a battle of prestige for the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with both party fielding heavyweights like Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and Ahmed Patel.

A month-long political drama, which entailed defections, and then the movement of MLAs from one state to another, will culminate on Tuesday leaving its imprint on the forthcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, scheduled for later this year.

Following are the key developments on the eve of RS polls.

• Just a day ahead of the crucial August 8 Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, 44 Congress members of legislative assembly (MLAs) came back from Bengaluru, Karnataka, to their home state.
• The MLAs were taken to a resort in Anand, where they are going to stay till Tuesday for sure.
• Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel has expressed confidence of winning Rajya Sabha election despite accusing the Gujarat's ruling BJP of hatching a conspiracy against him.
• Vaghela, who had so far maintained that his vote was reserved for Patel struck a different note on Monday saying his vote is secret.
• In the 182 member Gujarat Assembly, the strength of the Congress has gone down to 51 from 57.
• The Congress would need the support of 45 MLAs to elect Patel.
• Congress said it was confident of party nominee Ahmed Patel's win in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha polls from Gujarat, despite the BJP's attempts to lure MLAs through money, power and threats.
• Even if none of them cross-votes or uses None of the Above (NOTA) option, the Congress will require one additional vote to ensure Patel's victory.
• The outcome of the Rajya Sabha election is likely to leave its imprint on the forthcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, scheduled for later this year.
• Notably, the NCP and the JD(U) MLAs had accompanied Patel when he filed his nomination.
• Four candidates are in the fray for the three vacancies to the upper house of parliament and the contest is expected to go down to the wire.
• A win for Ahmed Patel will not only infuse a fresh lease of life into his political career but also help Congress put up a decent fight in the Assembly election.
• A loss for Ahmed Patel, however, could plunge Congress into a deeper crisis.

OneIndia News