Congress complains to EC over ‘horse-trading’ in Rajya Sabha polls in Rajasthan

Express News Service

JAIPUR: In the newest twist within the Rajya Sabha saga in Rajasthan, the ruling Congress has now complained to the Election Commission of horse buying and selling efforts allegedly being made to make sure  win for media baron and BJP-backed Independent candidate Subhash Chandra.

Meanwhile, Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal’s Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), a former ally of the BJP, introduced that its three MLAs will assist Subhash Chandra — a call that has led the AAP to allege {that a} Rs 40 crore deal was struck to swing these three votes.

In the tussle to win the fourth Rajya Sabha seat within the state, allegations and counter-allegations about horse-trading have intensified. Government Chief Whip and Water Resources Minister Dr Mahesh Joshi on Tuesday complained to the Chief Electoral Officer on the potential of horse-trading of MLAs.

Joshi mentioned the BJP is selling horse-trading on the pretext of supporting Subhash Chandra. He remarked: “The BJP is playing a dirty game in Rajasthan from behind the scenes. Money and other inducements are being given to MLAs in Rajya Sabha elections. Due to this, there is a possibility of democracy getting weakened.” Joshi asserted that “The Gehlot government has failed horse-trading conspiracies in the past and will fail them now.”

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Politics has additionally intensified after RLP introduced that its three MLAs will vote for Subhash Chandra. This has drawn a pointy response from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its state in-charge Vinay Mishra. He termed Hanuman Beniwal as “the seat vendor.”  Mishra made these costs in opposition to Beniwal on Twitter although the AAP has no MLA in Rajasthan and has nothing to lose or achieve in these elections. After the Punjab victory, the get together is attempting to broaden its presence in Rajasthan.

Mishra has accused Beniwal of supporting Chandra by taking Rs 40 crore. He tweeted, “If you give me blood, I will give you freedom – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. You vote for me, I will sell your vote for 40 crores – Netaji Beniwal (Rajya Sabha seat seller)”

This row additionally led to Congress MLA Divya Maderna hitting out at Beniwal’s get together. Terming it an “anti-farmer decision”, Maderna taunted Beniwal’s get together by tweeting – “RLP is BJP’s B team.  This is an anti-farmer decision.  One of the three Congress candidates, Randeep Surjewala, is from the farmers’ class.  If they were farmer friendly, they would have decided to vote in their favour.”

Maderna mentioned Beniwal had damaged his alliance with the BJP on the pretext of farmer agitation. The BJP has backed the candidature of Subhash Chandra whose channel had termed the agitating farmers “terrorists and Khalistanis”, she additional mentioned, including that extending assist to Chandra by his get together is “sheer hypocrisy”.

Sensing displeasure of some Congress and Independent MLAs, the BJP had prolonged its assist to Chandra which has made the competition for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat an in depth one.