The decisions would enable the two legislators to vote in the election where the Congress has fielded Vivek Tankha as its nominee. (File photo)
Bhopal:
In a relief to Congress in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the June 11 Rajya Sabha polls, the High Court today cleared the way for its two legislators to vote for the party nominee in separate decisions, improving its prospects to gain one of the three seats.
While in one case the Jabalpur bench of the High Court directed the Election Commission to facilitate postal ballot to a Congress legislator, who is undergoing treatment at a Mumbai hospital.
In an order its Indore bench granted bail to another party legislator, who was under judicial custody in an alleged rape case.
These decisions would enable the two legislators to vote in the election where the Congress has fielded Vivek Tankha as its nominee. Congress has 57 legislators in the house - one short of what is required for it to sail through to the Upper House.
The High Court's principal bench in Jabalpur directed the Election Commission to make available postal ballot to Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare, admitted in a hospital.
Justice SK Gangele issued the direction while hearing a petition of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee challenging the Election Commission's June 2 decision that quashed their plea seeking the use of ballot paper in the Rajya Sabah poll.
Earlier in the day, Congress legislator from Barwani Ramesh Patel was granted bail in a rape case by the court.
Mr Patel, arrested in connection with an alleged rape case four months ago, was granted bail by Justice JK Jain, his lawyer PK Mukati said.
Earlier, the Congress had plans to airlift Mr Katare and also another legislator Govardhan Upadhyay, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Indore. Instead, Mr Upadhyay will be brought to Bhopal for voting in an ambulance, Congress state chief spokesman KK Mishra told news agency PTI.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Union minister Kamal Nath is expected to arrive in Bhopal shortly and camp till the voting is over, seeking to ensure Mr Tankha's victory.
BJP has fielded eminent journalist MJ Akbar and party strategist Anil Madhav Dave as its candidates and both are set to win on the basis of the party's strength in the state Assembly.
The party's third nominee Vinod Gotia, who has entered the fray as an Independent, may now feel the heat after the two High Court orders.
The BJP needs nine extra votes to ensure win of Mr Gotia. Presently, it has 49 surplus votes excluding Rajendra Meshram, who has been restrained from voting by a Supreme Court order in connection with an election petition, an official of the Assembly told PTI.
Bahujan Samaj Party has already issued a whip to its four legislators to vote in favour of Mr Tankha.
In the 230-member Assembly, the ruling BJP has 166 members followed by Congress (57), BSP (4) and Independents (3).
While in one case the Jabalpur bench of the High Court directed the Election Commission to facilitate postal ballot to a Congress legislator, who is undergoing treatment at a Mumbai hospital.
In an order its Indore bench granted bail to another party legislator, who was under judicial custody in an alleged rape case.
These decisions would enable the two legislators to vote in the election where the Congress has fielded Vivek Tankha as its nominee. Congress has 57 legislators in the house - one short of what is required for it to sail through to the Upper House.
The High Court's principal bench in Jabalpur directed the Election Commission to make available postal ballot to Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare, admitted in a hospital.
Justice SK Gangele issued the direction while hearing a petition of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee challenging the Election Commission's June 2 decision that quashed their plea seeking the use of ballot paper in the Rajya Sabah poll.
Earlier in the day, Congress legislator from Barwani Ramesh Patel was granted bail in a rape case by the court.
Mr Patel, arrested in connection with an alleged rape case four months ago, was granted bail by Justice JK Jain, his lawyer PK Mukati said.
Earlier, the Congress had plans to airlift Mr Katare and also another legislator Govardhan Upadhyay, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Indore. Instead, Mr Upadhyay will be brought to Bhopal for voting in an ambulance, Congress state chief spokesman KK Mishra told news agency PTI.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Union minister Kamal Nath is expected to arrive in Bhopal shortly and camp till the voting is over, seeking to ensure Mr Tankha's victory.
BJP has fielded eminent journalist MJ Akbar and party strategist Anil Madhav Dave as its candidates and both are set to win on the basis of the party's strength in the state Assembly.
The party's third nominee Vinod Gotia, who has entered the fray as an Independent, may now feel the heat after the two High Court orders.
The BJP needs nine extra votes to ensure win of Mr Gotia. Presently, it has 49 surplus votes excluding Rajendra Meshram, who has been restrained from voting by a Supreme Court order in connection with an election petition, an official of the Assembly told PTI.
Bahujan Samaj Party has already issued a whip to its four legislators to vote in favour of Mr Tankha.
In the 230-member Assembly, the ruling BJP has 166 members followed by Congress (57), BSP (4) and Independents (3).
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