The Rajya Sabha elections for 15 seats in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh were marked by intense drama on Tuesday, featuring widespread cross-voting and legislators switching loyalties.
In Uttar Pradesh, notable leaders from the Samajwadi Party, including former chief whip Manoj Pandey, openly aligned with the BJP, sparking speculation of cross-voting. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav raised concerns, accusing the BJP of engaging in horse-trading and intimidating his party’s legislators.
Manoj Pandey, who resigned as the chief whip of the Samajwadi Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, was among five SP MLAs who met with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as the Rajya Sabha elections unfolded.
Karnataka, where four seats in the Upper House were at stake, witnessed cross-voting by two MLAs. Sources revealed that BJP’s ST Somashekar and Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) legislator G Janardhana Reddy cast their votes in favor of the Congress candidate.
In Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh, with one Rajya Sabha seat up for grabs, the voting process was brisk. BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan, contesting against Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi, claimed that all MLAs from the Congress party had been in contact with him before the polls.
Of the 56 Rajya Sabha seats undergoing elections on Tuesday, 41 members effectively secured their positions in the Upper House. Formal results are expected to be announced on February 27.
