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This Article is From Aug 09, 2017
Gujarat Rajya Sabha Election LIVE: Congress Says Ahmed Patel Re-Elected For Fifth Term After Tough Fight
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Updated : August 09, 2017 5:59 am IST
Gujarat Rajya Sabha Elections LIVE: Congress' Ahmed Patel leaves after casting his vote (PTI)
Gandhinagar / New Delhi: The Congress says its senior leader Ahmed Patel is returning to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat for a fifth term, winning the third seat today in a bitterly fought election that became a massive prestige battle between the Congress and the BJP. The other two seats have been won easily by BJP chief Amit Shah, who makes his debut in Parliament, and union minister Smriti Irani. For the Congress, wresting the Ahmed Patel win from a BJP determined to prevent it is the biggest boost it has had in a long time. The Congress says Ahmed Patel received 44 votes. The BJP had gone all out to defeat Mr Patel, turning the election into a big prestige battle. The BJP pitted Balwantsinh Rajput, a recent acquisition from the Congress, against Mr Patel. "I have the numbers," Ahmed Patel told NDTV before the results were declared.
Aug 09, 2017 02:25 (IST)
Congress supporters celebrate in Gujarat after the party said its leader Ahmed Patel has been re-elected to the Rajya Sabha after a tough election.
Aug 09, 2017 02:03 (IST)
Aug 09, 2017 02:01 (IST)
Aug 09, 2017 01:59 (IST)
Aug 09, 2017 00:55 (IST)
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Aug 09, 2017 00:45 (IST)
'Appreciate This Order': Ahmed Patel
"I appreciate this order," Ahmed Patel told NDTV. He said he was "confident" but did not elaborate, stating he would wait for the outcome of the election. Mr Patel was counting on 44 of the Congress' 51 MLAs left to support him. One of the 44 is confirmed to have voted against him, so he has 43 votes from his party.
Congress leaders walk out of the Election Commission's office in New Delhi (PTI)
"I appreciate this order," Ahmed Patel told NDTV. He said he was "confident" but did not elaborate, stating he would wait for the outcome of the election. Mr Patel was counting on 44 of the Congress' 51 MLAs left to support him. One of the 44 is confirmed to have voted against him, so he has 43 votes from his party.
Congress leaders walk out of the Election Commission's office in New Delhi (PTI)
Aug 08, 2017 23:40 (IST)
'Start Counting': Election Commission Tells Returning Officer
The Election Commission has asked the returning officer to start counting votes after segregating the two votes in question, news agency ANI reported.
The Election Commission has asked the returning officer to start counting votes after segregating the two votes in question, news agency ANI reported.
Aug 08, 2017 23:34 (IST)
Election Commission Declares Votes Of 2 Congress Legislators Invalid
The Election Commission has accepted the Congress' demand and has declared the votes of the two Congress legislators invalid.
The Election Commission has accepted the Congress' demand and has declared the votes of the two Congress legislators invalid.
Aug 08, 2017 23:29 (IST)
JD(U) Sacks Gujarat General Secretary Arun Srivastava: Report
The Janata Dal (United) has sacked its Gujarat General Secretary Arun Srivastava for writing to the returning officer over the appointment of the party's election agent when he was not directed to do so, news agency ANI reported.
The Janata Dal (United) has sacked its Gujarat General Secretary Arun Srivastava for writing to the returning officer over the appointment of the party's election agent when he was not directed to do so, news agency ANI reported.
Aug 08, 2017 23:27 (IST)
BJP President Amit Shah and party leaders wait outside the counting centre in Gandhinagar.
Aug 08, 2017 22:51 (IST)
Election Commission On Counting Of Votes
The Election Commission will convey order on counting of votes to the returning officer at 11:30 pm, news agency ANI reported.
The Election Commission will convey order on counting of votes to the returning officer at 11:30 pm, news agency ANI reported.
Aug 08, 2017 22:00 (IST)
Election Commission Officials Hold Meeting
Election Commission officials did not meet Congress and BJP delegations when they arrived for the third time, news agency ANI reported. The EC officials are in a closed-door meeting now.
Election Commission officials did not meet Congress and BJP delegations when they arrived for the third time, news agency ANI reported. The EC officials are in a closed-door meeting now.
Aug 08, 2017 22:00 (IST)
Want Counting To Begin: Nirmala Sitharaman
"We want the electoral process to be completed and counting to begin," BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman said.
The BJP delegation leaves the Election Commission's office in New Delhi.
"We want the electoral process to be completed and counting to begin," BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman said.
The BJP delegation leaves the Election Commission's office in New Delhi.
Aug 08, 2017 21:17 (IST)
Congress leaders including RPN Singh and Randeep Surjewala have gone to the Election Commission for the third time, news agency ANI reported. The BJP delegation has also reached the Election Commission for the third time.
Aug 08, 2017 20:50 (IST)
Have Faith In Election Commission: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the BJP has full faith in the Election Commission, news agency ANI reported. "The Congress's allegations have no substance and they are setting a wrong precedent," Mr Prasad said.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the BJP has full faith in the Election Commission, news agency ANI reported. "The Congress's allegations have no substance and they are setting a wrong precedent," Mr Prasad said.
Aug 08, 2017 20:30 (IST)
Reject Ballot Papers: P Chidambaram
"There is enough evidence that the ballot paper were seen by people other than those authorised. The Election Commission must reject these ballot papers as it did in Haryana in June 2016," Congress leader P Chidambaram said, news agency ANI reported.
"There is enough evidence that the ballot paper were seen by people other than those authorised. The Election Commission must reject these ballot papers as it did in Haryana in June 2016," Congress leader P Chidambaram said, news agency ANI reported.
Aug 08, 2017 19:58 (IST)
'Reject The Vote': Congress' Anand Sharma
Congress parliamentarian Anand Sharma said a Congress legislator had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana, and his vote was rejected. "The same was done in Gujarat and so should be rejected," Mr Sharma said, news agency ANI reported.
BJP's Nirmala Sitharaman, however, pointed out that since 2010, the secrecy clause does not exist. "The presiding officer has the power to reject a vote. He did not object. Even the Congress did not object then. Why now?" Ms Sitharaman told NDTV.
Congress parliamentarian Anand Sharma speaks to the media
Congress parliamentarian Anand Sharma said a Congress legislator had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana, and his vote was rejected. "The same was done in Gujarat and so should be rejected," Mr Sharma said, news agency ANI reported.
BJP's Nirmala Sitharaman, however, pointed out that since 2010, the secrecy clause does not exist. "The presiding officer has the power to reject a vote. He did not object. Even the Congress did not object then. Why now?" Ms Sitharaman told NDTV.
Congress parliamentarian Anand Sharma speaks to the media
Aug 08, 2017 19:48 (IST)
Confident, Let Counting Begin: Ahmed Patel
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Election Commission has heard the BJP's arguments. He said the Congress has been making false charges. BJP leader Piyush Goyal said the rules say hurdles in procedure calls for the presiding officer's warning and cancellation of that vote, but in this case the vote reached the ballot box under full supervision of the Election Commission.
However, Congress' Ahmed Patel said a complaint was filed immediately, but the returning officer didn't do anything, news agency ANI reported. "I'm very much confident. Let counting take place," Mr Patel said.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Election Commission has heard the BJP's arguments. He said the Congress has been making false charges. BJP leader Piyush Goyal said the rules say hurdles in procedure calls for the presiding officer's warning and cancellation of that vote, but in this case the vote reached the ballot box under full supervision of the Election Commission.
However, Congress' Ahmed Patel said a complaint was filed immediately, but the returning officer didn't do anything, news agency ANI reported. "I'm very much confident. Let counting take place," Mr Patel said.
Aug 08, 2017 19:17 (IST)
BJP Leaders Have Also Reached Election Commission
Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Nirmala Sitharaman and other BJP leaders have also reached the Election Commission, news agency ANI reported.
The Election Commission's office in New Delhi
Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Nirmala Sitharaman and other BJP leaders have also reached the Election Commission, news agency ANI reported.
The Election Commission's office in New Delhi
Aug 08, 2017 18:37 (IST)
'Chhotubhai Vasava Has Voted; He Will Tell'
"Who is KC Tyagi to say anything? Chhotubhai (Vasava) has voted; he will tell. Our support is with Ahmed Patel," said Ambalal Jadhav, Gujarat Janata Dal (United) General Secretary, news agency ANI reported. Chhotubhai Vasava, the only JD(U) legislator in Gujarat, said he has voted for Congress' Ahmed Patel, news agency PTI reported. Mr Vasava represents Scheduled Tribes reserved Jhagadia assembly seat in south Gujarat's Bharuch district. "BJP has ruled the state for 22 years but has ignored the state's tribal areas, which remain undeveloped as the government has done nothing for the poor and tribal population," Mr Vasava told PTI on phone.
"Who is KC Tyagi to say anything? Chhotubhai (Vasava) has voted; he will tell. Our support is with Ahmed Patel," said Ambalal Jadhav, Gujarat Janata Dal (United) General Secretary, news agency ANI reported. Chhotubhai Vasava, the only JD(U) legislator in Gujarat, said he has voted for Congress' Ahmed Patel, news agency PTI reported. Mr Vasava represents Scheduled Tribes reserved Jhagadia assembly seat in south Gujarat's Bharuch district. "BJP has ruled the state for 22 years but has ignored the state's tribal areas, which remain undeveloped as the government has done nothing for the poor and tribal population," Mr Vasava told PTI on phone.
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