Samajwadi Party candidate Amar Singh after winning Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. (PTI photo)
Lucknow:
Major political parties in Uttar Pradesh today ensured victory for all their candidates despite cross voting in Rajya Sabha biennial polls in which senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal emerged triumphant against BJP-backed Independent socialite Preeti Mahapatra.
The results showed that BSP, which had backed Congress Rajya Sabha nominees in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, chose not to transfer its surplus votes to any other party candidate in UP.
Besides Mr Sibal, the others who made it to the Rajya Sabha from the state are two recent returnees to SP-fold Amar Singh, Beni Prasad Verma, Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh, Vishambhar Prasad Nishad, Sukhram Singh Yadav, Sanjay Seth and Surendra Nagar (all SP), Satish Chandra Mishra and Ashok Sidharth (both BSP) and Shiv Pratap Shukla (BJP).
Although Mr Sibal got through, the Congress suffered a jolt with Mr Sibal getting only 25 first preference votes despite 8-member RLD committing four votes each to Congress and SP. The Congress has 29 legislators in the Assembly.
There were 12 candidates for 11 Rajya Sabha seats in UP and to secure a seat in Rajya Sabha, a candidate required 34 votes.
In the 403-member Assembly, SP has 229 legislators, BSP 80, BJP 41, Congress 29 and RLD 8. Peace Party has 4 legislators, Qaumi Ekta Dal (2), NCP (1), Apna Dal (1), Ittehad-e-Millat Council (1) and Trinamool Cong (1). There are 6 Independents.
Cross voting took place in today's polling as Samajwadi Party fielded seven candidates but the seventh candidate was short of nine first-preference votes for victory.
Although SP managed to ensure victory of all its seven candidates, only three were through in the first round of counting, reflecting that the contest was close for the ruling party.
Bahujan Samaj Party chose not to transfer its 12 surplus votes with it two candidates SC Mishra getting 39 votes and Ashok Sidhharth 42.
The last-minute entry of Preeti Mahapatra, wife of a Mumbai-based businessman, in the fray which forced a contest, managed just 18 first preference votes and conceded defeat even when the counting in further rounds was on.
The results showed that BSP, which had backed Congress Rajya Sabha nominees in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, chose not to transfer its surplus votes to any other party candidate in UP.
Besides Mr Sibal, the others who made it to the Rajya Sabha from the state are two recent returnees to SP-fold Amar Singh, Beni Prasad Verma, Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh, Vishambhar Prasad Nishad, Sukhram Singh Yadav, Sanjay Seth and Surendra Nagar (all SP), Satish Chandra Mishra and Ashok Sidharth (both BSP) and Shiv Pratap Shukla (BJP).
Congress candidate Kapil Sibal shows victory sign after his victory in the Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. (PTI photo)
There were 12 candidates for 11 Rajya Sabha seats in UP and to secure a seat in Rajya Sabha, a candidate required 34 votes.
In the 403-member Assembly, SP has 229 legislators, BSP 80, BJP 41, Congress 29 and RLD 8. Peace Party has 4 legislators, Qaumi Ekta Dal (2), NCP (1), Apna Dal (1), Ittehad-e-Millat Council (1) and Trinamool Cong (1). There are 6 Independents.
Cross voting took place in today's polling as Samajwadi Party fielded seven candidates but the seventh candidate was short of nine first-preference votes for victory.
BSP candidate Satish Chandra Mishra after winning the Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. (PTI photo)
Bahujan Samaj Party chose not to transfer its 12 surplus votes with it two candidates SC Mishra getting 39 votes and Ashok Sidhharth 42.
The last-minute entry of Preeti Mahapatra, wife of a Mumbai-based businessman, in the fray which forced a contest, managed just 18 first preference votes and conceded defeat even when the counting in further rounds was on.
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