Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: In a significant blow to the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, the partys nominee for the Rajya Sabha polls, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, faced defeat as nine MLAs including six from the party cross-voted. Following a tense electoral process, both Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Harsh Mahajan and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi secured 34 votes each, leading to the selection of the winner through a draw of lots.Addressing the press following his defeat, Singhvi gracefully conceded while reflecting on the actions of the MLAs who had cross-voted. He said that they had imparted, valuable lessons about human nature and its unpredictability.Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhus responseChief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was also present during the press conference. He criticized the cross-voting MLAs, accusing them of compromising their integrity. Despite the setback, he expressed confidence in the partys ability to overcome any challenges to its majority in the assembly. Sukhu highlighted that among the nine cross-voting MLAs, three were independents, while the remaining six compromised their integrity.#WATCH | Rajya Sabha Elections | Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, ...When someone has sold out their honesty...Nine cross-votings took place, three of them were Independent MLAs but six others sold their honesty...and voted against him (Abhishek Singhvi)... pic.twitter.com/MoRtSDceOk— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2024He said, Nine cross-votings took place, three of them were Independent MLAs but six others sold their honesty and voted against him (Abhishek Singhvi). However, Singhvi congratulated his rival candidate Harsh Mahajan on his victory while subtly admonishing the BJP for fielding a candidate despite lacking a majority in the assembly.Speculation and majority determinationResponding to speculation about a potential No Confidence Motion, Sukhu emphasized that the majority would be determined on the assembly floor, suggesting that familial pressure might sway some of the cross-voting MLAs.High voter turnoutSixty-seven out of the total 68 legislators exercised their votes in the Rajya Sabha election held in Shimla, marking a significant moment in Himachal Pradeshs political landscape.
