NCP to back BJP in Gujarat Rajya Sabha election

In a major blow to Congress in Gujarat Rajya Sabha poll, the Nationalist Congress Party on Monday announced it will support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the election to be held on Tuesday.

NCP leader Kandhal Jadeja told ANI that his party has decided to support BJP. "Our party has asked us to support BJP in tomorrow's RS elections and we will follow the directions, Jadeja said.

Earlier in the day Congress' candidate Ahmed Patel had said that the NCP is extending its support to him.

"The NCP has said that it will support Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat," Patel told reporters.

The BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah, Union Minister Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput.

In a week-long political drama, the Congress has sent 44 of its legislators to a resort outside Bengaluru to fend off "poaching" attempts by the BJP ahead of Rajya Sabha polls. The MLA's arrived in Ahmedabad ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections.

OneIndia News