Rajya Sabha Elections 2020 LIVE Updates: BJP Bags 3 Seats in Gujarat, Congress Limited to 1

BJP Wins 3, Congress 1 Seat in Gujarat | The BJP wins three Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat, while the Congress wins one. Abhay Bharadwaj, Ramila Bara and Narhari Amin won from the BJP. From the Congress, Shaktisinh Gohil won.

BJP Wins Lone Seat in Manipur | BJP candidate Leisemba Sanajaoba won the election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Manipur, defeating the Congress nominee in a high-voltage political drama. Sanajaoba, the titular king of Manipur, received 28 votes, officials said. The win will be a major boost to the ruling BJP-led coalition in the state which was on a sticky wicket after the rebellion of nine MLAs.

Congress leaders KC Venugopal & Neeraj Dangi and BJP's Rajendra Gehlot collect their winning certificates for Rajya Sabha elections:

Rajasthan: Congress leaders KC Venugopal & Neeraj Dangi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajendra Gehlot collect their winning certificates for Rajya Sabha elections. pic.twitter.com/wGESgww4SQ

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2020

Counting Begins in Gujarat | The issues raised by the Gujarat Congress before the Election Commission have been dismissed on the grounds of not having merit. Counting of votes has now begin. The Congress demanded that the Election Commission invalidate two BJP votes on different grounds. Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani said the Congress has sought cancellation of votes cast by BJP MLA Kesrisinh Solanki and minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

MNF Candidate Wins Mizoram Seat | Mizo National Front candidate K Vanlalvena elected to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Mizoram in a triangular contest after polling was held today.

Ashok Gehlot Saves the Day for Rajasthan Cong | The grand old party's senior-most leader in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, saved the day for his party getting two party members – national general secretary KC Venugopal and state general secretary Neeraj Dangi – elected to the Upper House of Parliament. Read Suhas Munshi's report here

Counting of Votes Delayed in Gujarat | Counting of votes for four Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat was delayed as the Congress demanded that the Election Commission invalidate two BJP votes on different grounds. Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani said the Congress has sought cancellation of votes cast by BJP MLA Kesrisinh Solanki and minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

The Rajya Sabha or the Upper House of Parliament is modeled after the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. The Rajya Sabha currently has 245 members, including 233 elected members and 12 nominated. As per the constitutional limit, the Upper House strength cannot exceed 250. News18.com explains how members are elected to the House

JMM Chief, BJP Win 1 Seat Each in Jharkhand | Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) President Shibu Soren and BJP state President Deepak Prakash were sent to sent to the Upper House from Jharkhand after Rajya Sabha polls were held on Friday. Soren got 31 votes, while Prakash got 30 votes. Congress nominee Shahzada Anwa managed 18 votes.

Gujarat Cong Urges EC to Cancel Two BJP MLAs' Votes | The Gujarat Congress complained to the Election Commission against BJP MLAs Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and Kesarisinh and urged for cancelling their votes in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections. Congress complained that Bhupendrasinh's Assembly seat victory was quashed by the Gujarat High Court and his Assembly membership no longer existed. The party said Kesarisinh cast his vote through a proxy voter, despite being totally fit till Thursday.

BJP Wins 2, Cong 1 in MP | In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP wins two Rajya Sabha seats, while the Congress has won one seat. BJP’s Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sumer Singh Solanki and Congress’ Digvijaya win RS election from MP.

Congress Wins 2 Seats, BJP 1 in Rajasthan | The Congress wins two seats in Rajasthan Rajya Sabha polls, while the BJP wins one. BJP's Rajendra Gehlot wons, while KC Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi won from the Congress.

Rajasthan Congress MLA Wajib Ali cast his vote in a PPE kit earlier today:

YSRCP Wins All 4 Andhra RS Seats | The YSRCP wins all four Rajya Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh. Its candidates Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, Alla Ayodhyarami Reddy and Parimal Natwani have been elected to the Rajya Sabha.

4 Invalid Votes in Andhra | Four invalid votes were identified in during counting in Andhra Pradesh. Three TDP rebel MLAs cast their votes as invalid. Of the 175 votes, 173 were polled as two MLAs were absent. Of these 173, four invalid votes were cast by TDP MLAs.

BJP Suffers Loss of 2 Votes in MP | In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP faces a loss of two votes, sources said. MLA Gopilal Jatav cast a cross-vote, while Jugal Kishore Bagri's vote was cancelled. The cross vote was cast due to a mistake, sources said.

NPP Wins Meghalaya Seat | National People's Party candidate WR Kharlukhi wins Rajya Sabha seat from Meghalaya. "I thank all the MDA partners for bestowing their support to the National People’s Party," CM Conrad Sangma wrote on Twitter congratulating him.

Congratulations #DrWRKharlukhi for being elected to the #RajyaSabha from #Meghalaya. I thank all the MDA partners for bestowing their support to the National People’s Party. pic.twitter.com/CA844nJMon

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 19, 2020

MP Minister Accuses Cong of Being 'Anti-Dalit' | Madhya Pradesh minister Narottam Mishra accused the Congress of betraying the party's Dalit leader, Phool Singh Baraiya, by placing him as the second preference nominee. While the BJP had fielded Jyotiraditya Scindia and former professor of a government college Sumer Singh Solanki, the Congress had fielded party veteran Digvijaya Singh and Dalit leader Phool Singh Baraiya. "The Congress has been anti-Dalit since beginning," Mishra said. He also accused Digvijaya Singh of snatching the opportunities of some reserved category leaders in the past.

Followed All Guidelines: Cong Rajasthan MLA | After the BJP filed a police complaint against Congress MLA Wajib Ali for casting his vote despite having returned from Australia only a day ago, he responds by saying that he had adhered to all guidelines to keep spread of the novel coronavirus at bay. He said that he had tested negative for the infection today itself. 

BJP MLA Skips Voting for Rajya Sabha Seat in Mizoram | The lone BJP MLA in Mizoram did not vote in the elections for the single Rajya Sabha seat in which NDA ally MNF is locked in a triangular fight, prompting Chief Minister Zoramthanga to say that ties are issue-based and his party has the right to say "yes or no" on emerging matters. Buddha Dhan Chakma abstained from voting because the saffron party did not have a candidate, according to state BJP president Vanlalhmuaka.

170 MLAs Vote in Gujarat Rajya Sabha Polls | Of the 172 MLAs eligible to vote in the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, 170 legislators cast their votes, while two others from the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) stayed away from the process after they demanded a written assurance about the welfare of tribals, migrants and Dalits. BTP MLAs  Chhotu Vasava and his son Mahesh claimed they would not give their votes until and unless they are given a written assurance about the welfare of tribals, migrants and Dalits. 

Prominent Leaders to Enter RS for 1st Time | According to an analysis by an official of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, prominent leaders to enter the Rajya Sabha for the first time include Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mallikarjun Kharge, M. Tambi Durai (former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha), KC Venugopal (former Lok Sabha Member) and KR Suresh Reddy (Former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of composite Andhra Pradesh State).

BJP Files Police Complaint against Congress MLA | The BJP has filed a police complaint against Congress MLA Wajib Ali, alleging that he had flouted the guidelines in place for checking the spread of the novel coronavirus. The party complained that Ali had returned from Australia one day ago and did not undergo the mandatory 14 days in quarantine. He instead, came to cast his vote and placed the lives of other legislators in jeopardy.

Amid Political Turmoil, Here's Who Voted in Manipur | Given the changing political equations in Manipur, polling for the only Rajya Sabha seat was undertaken amid tight security. Three BJP MLAs who have resigned did not cast their votes. Four NPP ministers who had withdrawn their support, have, however, exercised their franchise. Lone AITC MLA, who has also pulled out of the ruling dispensation, skipped the polling process. Three Congress defectors  were not allowed to cast their votes, as cases are pending against them. One MLA who was disqualified recently was also barred from voting. 

'Collective Experience on RS Members will Drop by 63 Terms' | According to an analysis by a senior official in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat's research division, in the elections for 61 vacancies in Rajya Sabha that conclude today, 43 first timers are set to enter the Upper House, accounting for 72% of the vacancies being filled up. With only 12 retiring members being re-elected and another 7 members with past experience of the Upper House returning to the House, the collective experience of the Members of Rajya Sabha will drop by as many as 63 terms.

Sachin Pilot Confident of Congress' Victory in Rajasthan | The ruling Congress in Rajasthan on Friday expressed confidence that the party will win the Rajya Sabha polls. Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot claimed that efforts were made to "create confusion" and spread rumour, but the candidates nominated by the AICC are going to win. "Both of our party candidates are going to win and I want to wish them in advance for their victory," he said.

First Preference Voting Ends in Gujarat | The first preference voting for four Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat has ended. After the voting, the victory of three candidates -- two of the BJP and one from the Congress -- is being considered as confirmed. However, the outcome in one seat still hangs in the balance. For the last and fourth seat, the second preference voting will be held for the BJP's Narhari Amin and the Congress' Bharatsinh Solanki.

2 TDP MLAs Absent from Voting in Andhra | Two TDP MLAs were absent for Rajya Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh.  K. Atchannaidu, who was arrested recently by the Anti-corruption Bureau in the ESI scam, and Anagani Satya Prasad, who said he was in self quarantine over Covid-19 threat, did not turn up for voting.

Australia-returned Cong MLA Casts Vote in PPE Gear | In Rajasthan, the BJP objected to Congress MLA Wajib Ali casting his vote instead of staying in home quarantine as he had returned from Australia just a day ago. Ali had taken the ballot paper to cast his vote when an election officer stopped him and allowed him to cast his vote only after he had worn a PPE kit.

BTP Refuses to Vote | The BTP has refused to vote in Gujarat. The BJP and Congress have repeatedly tried to convince them, but  Chhotubhai Vasava and Mahesh Vasava have outright refused to vote. Moreover, the BJP has claimed that it no longer needs support.