Rajya Sabha Polls: BJP Claims Majority as Cross-Voting Reported in Himachal Pradesh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday raised concerns over the Sukhvinder Sukhu-led Congress government’s standing in Himachal Pradesh, as reports of cross-voting surfaced during the Rajya Sabha elections. At least nine MLAs from the ruling camp have reportedly cast votes in favor of the BJP candidate, Harsh Mahajan, against the Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the Rajya Sabha seat.

The Congress party holds power in only two states, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. Former CM Jairam Thakur hinted at a potential loss of majority within the Himachal Pradesh government. Thakur indicated the possibility of seeking a trust vote, stating, ‘I can see that the government has lost the majority.’

Despite the Congress securing 40 seats out of 68 in the Assembly and enjoying the support of three independent MLAs, reports suggest that cross-voting may undermine its position. The Election Commission of India (ECI) conducted the Rajya Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh, where 67 out of 68 legislators participated in the voting process.

Harsh Mahajan, the BJP candidate, who resigned from the party in September 2022 and joined the BJP, contested against Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Suresh Bhardwaj expressed confidence that the MLAs had voted in alignment with the party’s ideology, strengthening their stance within the electoral process.

The Rajya Sabha elections marked polling for 15 candidates across Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh. Notably, 41 candidates secured their seats unopposed, including prominent figures like Sonia Gandhi, JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Ashwani Vaishnaw.