The Rajya Sabha results paved the way for the BJP to hold presidential elections

New Delhi, Dt

With the support of independent candidates and successfully challenging the legitimacy of votes with the help of cross-voting and taking advantage of the internal friction between their rivals, the BJP was able to win additional seats in the Rajya Sabha in Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra after fierce competition. These Rajya Sabha results have paved the way for the BJP to hold presidential elections.

Elections were held on 4 biennial Rajya Sabha seats in 12 states of the country, in which candidates were elected unopposed in 21 seats in 11 states. Voting for the remaining 18 seats in four states was held on Friday, with the BJP winning eight seats and one independent. The BJP won three seats in Karnataka and Maharashtra, one in Haryana and one in Rajasthan.

The BJP now has eight seats in the Rajya Sabha, including independents. On June 3, the party added 15 members to its membership. At this time, 21 candidates from all parties were elected unopposed. Out of a total of eight seats in the Rajya Sabha elections, the BJP had eight seats, of which it was expected to win 30 seats, but it has regained nine seats, including the Independents.

In Karnataka, the BJP benefited from the differences between the Congress and the JDS. A party leader said the vote-gathering talks for the third seat brought color. The BJP benefited from cross-voting. In the 121-member assembly, the BJP had hoped to win two seats and the Congress one, and there was fierce competition for the fourth seat, in which the BJP won. BJP sources said that despite being in opposition in Maharashtra, the ruling party had beaten Shiv Sena and won three of the six seats.

With the Presidential elections scheduled for July 15, the Rajya Sabha results are encouraging for the BJP. Out of 10.5 lakh votes in the presidential election, the BJP-led NDA has more than 5 per cent votes. Yet he hopes for the support of the YSR Congress and other Janata Dal.