Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday (Feb 29) disqualified six Congress MLAs that cross-voted during Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election to gift Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the sole seat for the upper house of the Indian parliament from the northern state.&nbsp;

"Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves. I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect," Singh&nbsp;announced.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania says, "Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves...I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate… <a href="https://t.co/QQt92aM10v">pic.twitter.com/QQt92aM10v</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1763080831914877377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The disqualified MLAs are Chaitanya Sharma,&nbsp;Rajinder Rana,&nbsp;Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Sudhir Sharma and Indur Dutt Lakhanpal.&nbsp;

The petition to disqualify the MLAs was filed by Congress leader and&nbsp;parliamentary affairs Minister Harsh Wardhan Chauhan under the anti-defection law.&nbsp;

With the six rebel MLAs disqualified, the strength of the house comes down from 68 to 62 and the halfway mark is 32. In this scenario, Congress has 34 MLAs in the assembly compared to BJP's 25 while three remain independent.&nbsp;

<h2>Political upheaval in the Himalayan state&nbsp;</h2>

The development comes a day after 15 BJP MLAs,&nbsp;including Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur, was suspended by the speaker, for "misbehaving" with marshalls outside his office.&nbsp;

Thakur had met the Himachal Pradesh governor early on Wednesday (Feb 28) and sought a test of strength for the&nbsp;Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government.&nbsp;

Thakur demanded&nbsp;a division of votes for passing the state budget instead of a voice vote. However, his request was not accepted as the assembly passed the budget for 2024-25 and related appropriation bill with a voice vote.&nbsp;

BJP had hoped if Congress failed to pass the budget, it would bring a no-confidence motion in the assembly to destabilise the government.&nbsp;The equations briefly stacked in its favour when&nbsp;MLA Vikramaditya Singh, son of former CM Virbhadra Singh, announced his resignation from the council of ministers, alleging the&nbsp;Sukhu-government had humiliated its own MLAs several times.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/himachal-pradesh-bjp-mlas-stage-walkout-amid-budget-proceedings-694861">Watch |&nbsp;Himachal Pradesh: BJP MLAs stage walkout amid budget proceedings</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/himachal-pradesh-bjp-mlas-stage-walkout-amid-budget-proceedings-694861/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Later in the night, Singh said he had withheld his resignation until&nbsp;Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar - the two observers deployed by the Congress high command to defuse the situation, had submitted their report.&nbsp;

"We have engaged with the observers, apprising them of the current situation. I will refrain from pressing my resignation until a decision is reached. The ultimate resolution will be determined in the near future," Singh said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/himachal-pradesh-political-crisis-vikramaditya-singh-takes-back-his-resignation-694886">Also read |&nbsp;Himachal Pradesh political crisis: Minister Vikramaditya Singh withholds his resignation</a>

Notably, after cross-voting resulted in Congress losing its advantage and senior leader Abhishek Singhvi conceding defeat, a dejected Sukhu blamed his party men for being sell-outs.

There were rumours that Sukhu might tender his resignation as well, but he came out to refute the claims saying Congress will remain in power for the full five-year period.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday (Feb 29) disqualified six Congress MLAs that cross-voted during Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election to gift Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the sole seat for the upper house of the Indian parliament from the northern state.

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday (Feb 29) disqualified six Congress MLAs that cross-voted during Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election to gift Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the sole seat for the upper house of the Indian parliament from the northern state. "Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves. I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect," Singh announced. #WATCH | Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania says, "Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves...I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate… pic.twitter.com/QQt92aM10v — ANI (@ANI) February 29, 2024 × The disqualified MLAs are Chaitanya Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Sudhir Sharma and Indur Dutt Lakhanpal. The petition to disqualify the MLAs was filed by Congress leader and parliamentary affairs Minister Harsh Wardhan Chauhan under the anti-defection law. With the six rebel MLAs disqualified, the strength of the house comes down from 68 to 62 and the halfway mark is 32. In this scenario, Congress has 34 MLAs in the assembly compared to BJP's 25 while three remain independent. Political upheaval in the Himalayan state The development comes a day after 15 BJP MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur, was suspended by the speaker, for "misbehaving" with marshalls outside his office. Thakur had met the Himachal Pradesh governor early on Wednesday (Feb 28) and sought a test of strength for the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government. Thakur demanded a division of votes for passing the state budget instead of a voice vote. However, his request was not accepted as the assembly passed the budget for 2024-25 and related appropriation bill with a voice vote. BJP had hoped if Congress failed to pass the budget, it would bring a no-confidence motion in the assembly to destabilise the government. The equations briefly stacked in its favour when MLA Vikramaditya Singh, son of former CM Virbhadra Singh, announced his resignation from the council of ministers, alleging the Sukhu-government had humiliated its own MLAs several times. Watch | Himachal Pradesh: BJP MLAs stage walkout amid budget proceedings × Later in the night, Singh said he had withheld his resignation until Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar - the two observers deployed by the Congress high command to defuse the situation, had submitted their report. "We have engaged with the observers, apprising them of the current situation. I will refrain from pressing my resignation until a decision is reached. The ultimate resolution will be determined in the near future," Singh said. Also read | Himachal Pradesh political crisis: Minister Vikramaditya Singh withholds his resignation Notably, after cross-voting resulted in Congress losing its advantage and senior leader Abhishek Singhvi conceding defeat, a dejected Sukhu blamed his party men for being sell-outs. There were rumours that Sukhu might tender his resignation as well, but he came out to refute the claims saying Congress will remain in power for the full five-year period. (With inputs from agencies)

Himachal Pradesh political crisis: Speaker disqualifies 6 Congress MLAs who cross-voted for BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (Feb 27) claimed that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh state has lost the majority. The claim was made after reports of cross-voting by at least nine legislators of the ruling party in the Rajya Sabha elections for the lone seat from the state.

BJP leader and former CM of the state Jairam Thakur said, “Budget will be presented tomorrow. We will discuss the Budget tomorrow and then we will see the situation there. But I can see that the government has lost the majority."

State Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu confirmed the cross voting in a press conference held later on.

"...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 Manu Singhvi)..." he said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | 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)..." <a href="https://t.co/MoRtSDceOk">pic.twitter.com/MoRtSDceOk</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1762493934243291248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singvi, who was present in the same press conference, conceded defeat.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Rajya Sabha Elections | Congress candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi says, "First of all, I extend heartiest congratulations to Harsh Mahajan (BJP candidate), he has won. He deserves my congratulations. I would like to tell his party - introspect and… <a href="https://t.co/iS4v7Kx2zp">pic.twitter.com/iS4v7Kx2zp</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1762491877264105805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Congress won the state in the 2022 elections with a comfortable majority of 40 seats in the 68-member house. The government of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu Sukhu was also backed by three independent MLAs. The BJP, on the other hand, won just 25 seats.

Watch:&nbsp;Will the BJP maintain its seven-seat sweep in Delhi?

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-lok-sabha-elections-2024-will-the-bjp-maintain-its-seven-seat-sweep-in-delhi-693773/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Congress party currently governs just two states in the country: Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

<h2>How BJP managed to challenge the grand old party?</h2>

The BJP fielded Harsh Mahajan against Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the Upper House seat.

Mahajan is a three-time Congress MLA and was&nbsp;a minister in the state, before joining the BJP in September 2022 ahead of the assembly polls.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjGwduu2suEAxXU2TgGHcrtB2EQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/setback-for-bjp-karnataka-mla-cross-votes-for-congress-in-rajya-sabha-elections-694408" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/setback-for-bjp-karnataka-mla-cross-votes-for-congress-in-rajya-sabha-elections-694408&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjGwduu2suEAxXU2TgGHcrtB2EQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">Setback for BJP? Karnataka MLA cross-votes for Congress in Rajya Sabha elections</a>

Despite claims by the BJP, CM Sukhu had earlier said that he is confident that his party MLAs will vote&nbsp;in favour of the party candidate. “We have 40 MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha and unless MLAs are bought off, we will get all the votes," he was quoted as saying.

<h2>Rajya Sabha elections</h2>

Elections to fill 15 seats of the upper house of the Indian Parliament were held Tuesday in three states: Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. Polling was held for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, four in Karnataka and one seat in Himachal Pradesh.

In Himachal, 67 out of the total 68 candidates cast their votes in elections as one Congress MLA was hospitalised due to illness.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (Feb 27) claimed that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh state has lost the majority. The claim was made after reports of cross-voting by at least nine legislators of the ruling party in the Rajya Sabha elections for the lone seat from the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (Feb 27) claimed that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh state has lost the majority. The claim was made after reports of cross-voting by at least nine legislators of the ruling party in the Rajya Sabha elections for the lone seat from the state. BJP leader and former CM of the state Jairam Thakur said, “Budget will be presented tomorrow. We will discuss the Budget tomorrow and then we will see the situation there. But I can see that the government has lost the majority." State Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu confirmed the cross voting in a press conference held later on. "...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 Manu Singhvi)..." he said. #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, 2024 × Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singvi, who was present in the same press conference, conceded defeat. #WATCH | Rajya Sabha Elections | Congress candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi says, "First of all, I extend heartiest congratulations to Harsh Mahajan (BJP candidate), he has won. He deserves my congratulations. I would like to tell his party - introspect and… pic.twitter.com/iS4v7Kx2zp — ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2024 × Congress won the state in the 2022 elections with a comfortable majority of 40 seats in the 68-member house. The government of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu Sukhu was also backed by three independent MLAs. The BJP, on the other hand, won just 25 seats. Watch: Will the BJP maintain its seven-seat sweep in Delhi? × Congress party currently governs just two states in the country: Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. How BJP managed to challenge the grand old party? The BJP fielded Harsh Mahajan against Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the Upper House seat. Mahajan is a three-time Congress MLA and was a minister in the state, before joining the BJP in September 2022 ahead of the assembly polls. Also read: Setback for BJP? Karnataka MLA cross-votes for Congress in Rajya Sabha elections Despite claims by the BJP, CM Sukhu had earlier said that he is confident that his party MLAs will vote in favour of the party candidate. “We have 40 MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha and unless MLAs are bought off, we will get all the votes," he was quoted as saying. Rajya Sabha elections Elections to fill 15 seats of the upper house of the Indian Parliament were held Tuesday in three states: Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. Polling was held for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, four in Karnataka and one seat in Himachal Pradesh. In Himachal, 67 out of the total 68 candidates cast their votes in elections as one Congress MLA was hospitalised due to illness. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress govt in Himachal Pradesh has lost majority, claims BJP after cross-voting in RS polls

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi filed nomination for Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan. With this Sonia Gandhi bids adieu to her 25 years journey of Lok Sabha.

India: Congress' Sonia Gandhi to contest Rajya Sabha polls from Rajasthan

It was a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition led by Congress for the 16 Rajya Sabha seats (India’s Upper House in parliament) across Indian states.

In some states, BJP won the elections comfortably, while the Congress and other opposition parties gave a tough fight in other states. There were also complaints of rules violation and cross-voting.

The victory is significant for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party ahead of the Presidential elections, where members of both Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha vote.

The latest electoral victory is expected to help the BJP's nominee for Indian president (yet to be declared)&nbsp;sail through without any problems, since the ruling party commands a majority in Lok Sabha and now in Rajya Sabha as well.

The polls took place in four states—Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana.

The BJP won 3 seats out of 6 in Maharashtra, and 3 out of 4 in Karnataka. In Haryana, the BJP won 1 seat, while an Independent candidate backed by the saffron party won the other out of 2 seats.

The Congress posted a big win in Rajasthan, winning all the 4 seats, while gaining 1 each in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance suffered a jolt as the main opposition BJP won three of the six Rajya Sabha seats in the state, the results of which were announced early Saturday.

The BJP winners include Union minister Piyush Goyal, former state minister Anil Bonde, and Dhananjay Mahadik.

Shiv Sena's ubiquitous face Sanjay Raut, NCP's Praful Patel, a former union minister, and Congress' Imran Pratapgarhi also won the fiercely-fought elections.

Former MP Dhananjay Mahadik of the BJP defeated Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar for the sixth seat.

The Congress suffered a major setback in Haryana where BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar and the saffron party-backed Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma won the two seats, while the grand old party's Ajay Maken, a former union minister, lost.

Returning Officer R K Nandal said Panwar got 36 votes, while Sharma got 23 first preference votes and 6.6 votes transferred by the BJP, taking his tally to 29.6. It was a photo-finish as Maken got 29 votes, but lost on account of having failed to secure any second preference votes.

The main opposition Congress managed to win only one of the two seats for which its nominees were in the fray, while the JD(S) drew a blank.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, actor-politician Jaggesh, and MLC Lehar Singh Siroya of the BJP, and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh of the Congress were declared victorious.

Sitharaman and Ramesh have been re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.

There was suspense over the outcome of the fight for the fourth seat, which witnessed a tight contest between all the three major political parties none of which had enough votes for an easy win.

However, BJP's Siroya triumphed over Mansoor Ali Khan of the Congress and D Kupendra Reddy (JDS), apparently aided by cross-voting from rival parties and the help of Independents.

In Rajasthan, the ruling Congress won three of the four seats and the BJP one.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

It was a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition led by Congress for the 16 Rajya Sabha seats (India’s Upper House in parliament) across Indian states.

It was a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition led by Congress for the 16 Rajya Sabha seats (India’s Upper House in parliament) across Indian states. In some states, BJP won the elections comfortably, while the Congress and other opposition parties gave a tough fight in other states. There were also complaints of rules violation and cross-voting. The victory is significant for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party ahead of the Presidential elections, where members of both Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha vote. The latest electoral victory is expected to help the BJP's nominee for Indian president (yet to be declared) sail through without any problems, since the ruling party commands a majority in Lok Sabha and now in Rajya Sabha as well. The polls took place in four states—Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana. The BJP won 3 seats out of 6 in Maharashtra, and 3 out of 4 in Karnataka. In Haryana, the BJP won 1 seat, while an Independent candidate backed by the saffron party won the other out of 2 seats. The Congress posted a big win in Rajasthan, winning all the 4 seats, while gaining 1 each in Karnataka and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance suffered a jolt as the main opposition BJP won three of the six Rajya Sabha seats in the state, the results of which were announced early Saturday. The BJP winners include Union minister Piyush Goyal, former state minister Anil Bonde, and Dhananjay Mahadik. Shiv Sena's ubiquitous face Sanjay Raut, NCP's Praful Patel, a former union minister, and Congress' Imran Pratapgarhi also won the fiercely-fought elections. Former MP Dhananjay Mahadik of the BJP defeated Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar for the sixth seat. The Congress suffered a major setback in Haryana where BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar and the saffron party-backed Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma won the two seats, while the grand old party's Ajay Maken, a former union minister, lost. Returning Officer R K Nandal said Panwar got 36 votes, while Sharma got 23 first preference votes and 6.6 votes transferred by the BJP, taking his tally to 29.6. It was a photo-finish as Maken got 29 votes, but lost on account of having failed to secure any second preference votes. The main opposition Congress managed to win only one of the two seats for which its nominees were in the fray, while the JD(S) drew a blank. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, actor-politician Jaggesh, and MLC Lehar Singh Siroya of the BJP, and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh of the Congress were declared victorious. Sitharaman and Ramesh have been re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. There was suspense over the outcome of the fight for the fourth seat, which witnessed a tight contest between all the three major political parties none of which had enough votes for an easy win. However, BJP's Siroya triumphed over Mansoor Ali Khan of the Congress and D Kupendra Reddy (JDS), apparently aided by cross-voting from rival parties and the help of Independents. In Rajasthan, the ruling Congress won three of the four seats and the BJP one. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Rajya Sabha polls: Prime Minister Modi's BJP wins big, major upset for Congress

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/after-ball-tampering-admission-smith-warner-step-down-as-captain-vice-captain-of-australian-cricket-team-37010">After ball-tampering admission, Smith, Warner step down as captain, vice-captain of Australian cricket team</a>

Steve Smith has stepped down as the captain of the Australian cricket team following the ball-tampering saga that took place during the third day of the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjps-win-in-up-rajya-sabha-polls-has-bolstered-sp-bsp-unity-akhilesh-yadav-37024">BJP&#39;s win in UP Rajya Sabha polls has bolstered SP-BSP unity: Akhilesh Yadav</a>

The BJP may have wrested an extra seat in the recent Rajya Sabha polls but the victory will backfire on the saffron party as its &quot;anti-Dalit face stood exposed&quot; while the SP-BSP unity got strengthened, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav claimed today.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/up-10-persons-arrested-for-alleged-links-to-let-terror-funding-37016">UP: 10 persons arrested for alleged links to LeT, terror-funding</a>

The Uttar Pradesh Police&#39;s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested 10 persons for alleged links to the terrroist outfit the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and allegedly involved in terror-funding activities at the behest of Pakistan.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-ram-navami-pandals-vandalised-bjp-accuses-tmc-37020">West Bengal: Ram Navami pandals vandalised, BJP accuses TMC</a>

A Ram Navami pandal was vandalised on Saturday evening by unidentified miscreants in Bardhman district of West Bengal.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-problem-getting-naked-before-the-white-man-but-there-is-revolution-when-govt-asks-for-address-minister-37008">No problem getting naked before white man but revolution when </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-problem-getting-naked-before-the-white-man-but-there-is-revolution-when-govt-asks-for-address-minister-37008">government</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-problem-getting-naked-before-the-white-man-but-there-is-revolution-when-govt-asks-for-address-minister-37008"> asks for name, address: Union Minister&nbsp;</a>

Union Minister of State for Tourism and IT K J Alphons on Saturday said that Indians absolutely have no problem giving fingerprints and getting body naked before the white man at all.

After ball-tampering admission, Smith, Warner step down as captain, vice-captain of Australian cricket team Steve Smith has stepped down as the captain of the Australian cricket team following the ball-tampering saga that took place during the third day of the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday. BJP's win in UP Rajya Sabha polls has bolstered SP-BSP unity: Akhilesh Yadav The BJP may have wrested an extra seat in the recent Rajya Sabha polls but the victory will backfire on the saffron party as its "anti-Dalit face stood exposed" while the SP-BSP unity got strengthened, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav claimed today. UP: 10 persons arrested for alleged links to LeT, terror-funding The Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested 10 persons for alleged links to the terrroist outfit the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and allegedly involved in terror-funding activities at the behest of Pakistan. West Bengal: Ram Navami pandals vandalised, BJP accuses TMC A Ram Navami pandal was vandalised on Saturday evening by unidentified miscreants in Bardhman district of West Bengal. No problem getting naked before white man but revolution when government asks for name, address: Union Minister Union Minister of State for Tourism and IT K J Alphons on Saturday said that Indians absolutely have no problem giving fingerprints and getting body naked before the white man at all.

WION evening news brief, March 25, 2018

BJP won 12&nbsp;of the remaining 26&nbsp;seats that were at stake in crucial Rajya Sabha biennial polls in seven states on Saturday&nbsp;amid high drama in Uttar Pradesh where it clinched an extra ninth seat overcoming the newfound bonhomie between former arch rivals SP and BSP.

For the 59 Rajya Sabha seats to be filled, 33 candidates from 10 states were declared elected unopposed on March 15 with the BJP accounting for 16 of them.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao, SP&#39;s Jaya Bachchan (all from Uttar Pradesh), Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was backed by ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, and BJP&#39;s Rajeev Chandrasekhar (from Karnataka) were among the prominent winners.

Backed by ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, M P Veerendra Kumar, the President of the Kerala unit of Janata Dal (U) Sharad Yadav faction, was elected from Kerala defeating his Congress rival, in a bypoll after he resigned from Rajya Sabha as a mark of protest following JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joining hands with BJP-led NDA.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the winners in the Rajya Sabha polls. &quot;Congratulations to all those elected to the Rajya Sabha from various states and best wishes for their parliamentary career. I hope they effectively voice the aspirations of the states they will represent,&quot; he tweeted.

There was a two-hour delay in the counting of votes in UP as the opposition Samajwadi Party and BSP lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.

Besides BJP&#39;s prominent winner Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, others who made it to the Upper House of Parliament from the party are Ashok Bajpai, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Sakal Deep Rajbhar, Kanta Kardam, Anil Jain, Harnath Singh Yadav, GVL Narasimha Rao and ninth candidate Anil Kumar Agarwal, who pulled off a surprise win with the help of second preference votes.

The remaining seat went to the Samajwadi Party (Jaya Bachchan) in the polls marred by cross-voting from both the sides, which led to the defeat of BSP candidate in the prestigious battle of ballots, touted as a test for the new-found bonhomie between the parties headed by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.

The Rajya Sabha results came days after the BJP lost Lok Sabha bypolls to Gorakhpur and Phulpur to a joint force of the SP and the BSP.

In West Bengal, Singhvi and four Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidates -- Nadimul Haque, Subhasish Chakraborty, Abir Biswas and Santunu Sen -- won the Rajya Sabha election.

The TMC supported Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha poll who contested as the fifth candidate as the Congress did not have the strength in the Assembly to get its candidate elected.

Singhvi secured 47 votes, he said.

Nadimul Haque secured 52 votes, Subhasish Chakraborty got 54 votes, Abir Biswas bagged 52 and Santunu Sen secured 51 votes, Koley said.

The ruling Congress in Karnataka bagged three Rajya Sabha seats whil BJP wone in one in the biennial election, amid a boycott of the poll by the JDS, alleging electoral malpractice.

Congress&#39;s L Hanumanthaiah, Syed Naseer Hussain and G C Chandrasekhar, and BJP&#39;s Rajeev Chandrashekar were declared elected after a complaint by the JDS to the Election Commission caused a delay in taking up counting of votes.

With its strength in the Assembly, the Congress was sure of winning two seats and eyed the third seat and won it with the support of JDS rebels and independents.

The fight was for the third seat between the third candidate of the Congress&#39; Chandrasekhar and JDS&#39; B M Farooq, with the ruling party pulling off a bonus victory.

Businessman Rajeev Chandrasekhar secured 50 votes, six more than required, with the support from smaller parties and independents.

Congress&#39;s Chandrasekhar received 46 votes, Hanumanthaiah 44 and Hussain 42.

In Telangana, TRS candidates B Prakash, B Lingaiah Yadav and J Santosh Kumar were elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Prakash, Yadav and Santosh Kumar got 33, 32 and 32 votes respectively. Balaram obtained 10 votes, official sources said.

BJP national general secretary Saroj Pandey won the lone Rajya Sabha seat for which polling was held in Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

The House currently has 49 BJP MLAs, 39 Congress legislators, one BSP member and an independent legislator.

Arun Jaitley and GVL Narsimha Rao, SP's Jaya Bachchan (all from Uttar Pradesh), Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi and BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar (from Karnataka) were among the prominent winners.

BJP won 12 of the remaining 26 seats that were at stake in crucial Rajya Sabha biennial polls in seven states on Saturday amid high drama in Uttar Pradesh where it clinched an extra ninth seat overcoming the newfound bonhomie between former arch rivals SP and BSP. For the 59 Rajya Sabha seats to be filled, 33 candidates from 10 states were declared elected unopposed on March 15 with the BJP accounting for 16 of them. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao, SP's Jaya Bachchan (all from Uttar Pradesh), Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was backed by ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, and BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar (from Karnataka) were among the prominent winners. Backed by ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, M P Veerendra Kumar, the President of the Kerala unit of Janata Dal (U) Sharad Yadav faction, was elected from Kerala defeating his Congress rival, in a bypoll after he resigned from Rajya Sabha as a mark of protest following JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joining hands with BJP-led NDA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the winners in the Rajya Sabha polls. "Congratulations to all those elected to the Rajya Sabha from various states and best wishes for their parliamentary career. I hope they effectively voice the aspirations of the states they will represent," he tweeted. There was a two-hour delay in the counting of votes in UP as the opposition Samajwadi Party and BSP lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. Besides BJP's prominent winner Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, others who made it to the Upper House of Parliament from the party are Ashok Bajpai, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Sakal Deep Rajbhar, Kanta Kardam, Anil Jain, Harnath Singh Yadav, GVL Narasimha Rao and ninth candidate Anil Kumar Agarwal, who pulled off a surprise win with the help of second preference votes. The remaining seat went to the Samajwadi Party (Jaya Bachchan) in the polls marred by cross-voting from both the sides, which led to the defeat of BSP candidate in the prestigious battle of ballots, touted as a test for the new-found bonhomie between the parties headed by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati. The Rajya Sabha results came days after the BJP lost Lok Sabha bypolls to Gorakhpur and Phulpur to a joint force of the SP and the BSP. In West Bengal, Singhvi and four Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidates -- Nadimul Haque, Subhasish Chakraborty, Abir Biswas and Santunu Sen -- won the Rajya Sabha election. The TMC supported Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha poll who contested as the fifth candidate as the Congress did not have the strength in the Assembly to get its candidate elected. Singhvi secured 47 votes, he said. Nadimul Haque secured 52 votes, Subhasish Chakraborty got 54 votes, Abir Biswas bagged 52 and Santunu Sen secured 51 votes, Koley said. The ruling Congress in Karnataka bagged three Rajya Sabha seats whil BJP wone in one in the biennial election, amid a boycott of the poll by the JDS, alleging electoral malpractice. Congress's L Hanumanthaiah, Syed Naseer Hussain and G C Chandrasekhar, and BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekar were declared elected after a complaint by the JDS to the Election Commission caused a delay in taking up counting of votes. With its strength in the Assembly, the Congress was sure of winning two seats and eyed the third seat and won it with the support of JDS rebels and independents. The fight was for the third seat between the third candidate of the Congress' Chandrasekhar and JDS' B M Farooq, with the ruling party pulling off a bonus victory. Businessman Rajeev Chandrasekhar secured 50 votes, six more than required, with the support from smaller parties and independents. Congress's Chandrasekhar received 46 votes, Hanumanthaiah 44 and Hussain 42. In Telangana, TRS candidates B Prakash, B Lingaiah Yadav and J Santosh Kumar were elected to the Rajya Sabha. Prakash, Yadav and Santosh Kumar got 33, 32 and 32 votes respectively. Balaram obtained 10 votes, official sources said. BJP national general secretary Saroj Pandey won the lone Rajya Sabha seat for which polling was held in Chhattisgarh. The House currently has 49 BJP MLAs, 39 Congress legislators, one BSP member and an independent legislator.

BJP bags 12 Rajya Sabha seats, crushes SP-BSP bonhomie in UP

The polls to Rajya Sabha, which will have 58 vacancies in April, will be held on Friday.

For the 58 Rajya Sabha seats to be filled, 33 candidates from 10 states have been unanimously elected.

Voting for the remaining 25 seats will be held in six states. They are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana.

The Rajya Sabha vacancies next month include 17 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 12 from the Congress Party.

Three nominated members - actress Rekha, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, and social worker Anu Aga -- will retire in April.

The BJP has filed 18 candidates for the biennial polls. They include Anil Baluni, the national head of the BJP`s media wing, from Uttarakhand and Saroj Pandey, BJP general secretary, from Chhattisgarh.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda has filed nomination papers as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will contest from Uttar Pradesh and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Bihar.

The BJP has also fielded Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot from Madhya Pradesh for another Rajya Sabha term.Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh L. Mandaviya and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala will contest from Gujarat.

In Congress, Naranbhai Rathwa and Amee Yajnik will contest from Gujarat and Dhiraj Prasad will contest from Jharkhand.Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Lekhram Sahu will contest from Bihar and Chhattisgarh respectively, while Rajmani Patel, Kumar Ketkar, Porika Bairam Naik and Abhishek Manu Singhvi are contesting from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and West Bengal, respectively.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier said the Trinamool Congress would back Singhvi.Mahendra Prasad Singh and Bashistha Narain Singh are the Janata Dal (United) candidates for the polls.

Counting of votes will begin from 5 pm onwards on Friday. Results are expected to will be announced the same evening.&nbsp;

Counting of votes will begin from 5 pm onwards on Friday. Results are expected to will be announced the same evening

The polls to Rajya Sabha, which will have 58 vacancies in April, will be held on Friday. For the 58 Rajya Sabha seats to be filled, 33 candidates from 10 states have been unanimously elected. Voting for the remaining 25 seats will be held in six states. They are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana. The Rajya Sabha vacancies next month include 17 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 12 from the Congress Party. Three nominated members - actress Rekha, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, and social worker Anu Aga -- will retire in April. The BJP has filed 18 candidates for the biennial polls. They include Anil Baluni, the national head of the BJP`s media wing, from Uttarakhand and Saroj Pandey, BJP general secretary, from Chhattisgarh. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda has filed nomination papers as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will contest from Uttar Pradesh and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Bihar. The BJP has also fielded Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot from Madhya Pradesh for another Rajya Sabha term.Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh L. Mandaviya and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala will contest from Gujarat. In Congress, Naranbhai Rathwa and Amee Yajnik will contest from Gujarat and Dhiraj Prasad will contest from Jharkhand.Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Lekhram Sahu will contest from Bihar and Chhattisgarh respectively, while Rajmani Patel, Kumar Ketkar, Porika Bairam Naik and Abhishek Manu Singhvi are contesting from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and West Bengal, respectively. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier said the Trinamool Congress would back Singhvi.Mahendra Prasad Singh and Bashistha Narain Singh are the Janata Dal (United) candidates for the polls. Counting of votes will begin from 5 pm onwards on Friday. Results are expected to will be announced the same evening.

Rajya Sabha polls: Electoral battle for 25 seats today

Gujarat Congress MLAs left from Neejanand Resort in Anand to cast their votes in Monday&rsquo;s biennial poll for three Rajya Sabha seats in the state.

The MLAs, who were in a hideaway in a Bengaluru resort, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/preview/article/18656">returned home on Monday</a> to cast their votes in the polls.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash">#Gujarat</a> Congress MLAs leave Neejanand Resort in Anand showing victory sign, ahead of Rajya Sabha election voting. <a href="https://t.co/Q0l86nyEJC">pic.twitter.com/Q0l86nyEJC</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/894744970703142912">August 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

After arriving in Ahmedabad on Monday morning, the MLAs were taken to another resort, Neejanand Resort.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/preview/article/18372">44 Congress MLAs were flown out of Ahmedabad to Bengaluru</a>&nbsp;on July 29 after 6 MLAs quit the party and three of them joined the BJP. The MLAs were kept in a resort near Bengaluru, hosted by Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar, to prevent any more defections.

Four candidates are contesting for three Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat.&nbsp;

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel is contesting for a seat in the upper house of the Parliament.

BJP candidates include party chief Amit Shah, union minister Smriti Irani, and Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput.

Each candidate needs 45 votes to win. Congress has 51 seats out of 182 in the Gujarat Assembly.

 
&nbsp;

The 44 MLAs, who were in a hideaway in a Bengaluru resort, landed in Ahmedabad early Monday morning ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections

Gujarat Congress MLAs left from Neejanand Resort in Anand to cast their votes in Monday’s biennial poll for three Rajya Sabha seats in the state. The MLAs, who were in a hideaway in a Bengaluru resort, returned home on Monday to cast their votes in the polls. #WATCH: #Gujarat Congress MLAs leave Neejanand Resort in Anand showing victory sign, ahead of Rajya Sabha election voting. pic.twitter.com/Q0l86nyEJC — ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2017 × After arriving in Ahmedabad on Monday morning, the MLAs were taken to another resort, Neejanand Resort. 44 Congress MLAs were flown out of Ahmedabad to Bengaluru on July 29 after 6 MLAs quit the party and three of them joined the BJP. The MLAs were kept in a resort near Bengaluru, hosted by Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar, to prevent any more defections. Four candidates are contesting for three Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel is contesting for a seat in the upper house of the Parliament. BJP candidates include party chief Amit Shah, union minister Smriti Irani, and Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput. Each candidate needs 45 votes to win. Congress has 51 seats out of 182 in the Gujarat Assembly.

Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls: Congress MLAs leave Neejanand Resort to cast votes

rajya-sabha-polls

Rajya Sabha Polls, News on Rajya Sabha Polls, stories on Rajya Sabha Polls, articles on Rajya Sabha Polls, Rajya Sabha Polls stories at Wion, Rajya Sabha Polls news, Rajya Sabha Polls latest news

rajya sabha-polls