Congress' Ahmed Patel clinches win in Gujarat Rajya Sabha election

Patel, who is a close aid to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, won the prestigious battle by securing 44 electoral votes.

The drama centered around Patel's seat went on for long hours on Tuesday as the Congress complained against its two MLAs to the Election Commission for breaching secrecy.

The two MLAs had shown their ballot papers to BJP's polling agent apart from the Congress' which is against the rule.

As per rule, voters can only show their ballot papers to their respective parties.

Later, the EC disqualified the votes of both the MLAs.

After winning the political battle in RS, Patel took to Twitter to say: "This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power,muscle power and abuse of state machinery."

Sonia's close aid even expressed his hope that the Congress party would perform well in the upcoming Assembly election in Gujarat. "BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror. People of Gujarat will give them a befitting reply in this year's election."

After the resignation of  former Gujarat chief minister and veteran Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, and with three party members joining the BJP, the Congress had flown 44 of its lawmakers to Bengaluru late last month to stop any defection.

Congress accused the incumbent Gujarat government of trying to lure 22 Congress lawmakers by offering Rs 15 crores to each MLA and asking them to cross vote during the polls.

Apart from Patel, BJP President Amit Shah and Union textile minister Smriti Irani won their respective Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed Amit Shah as a diligent worker, after the latter was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.

The Prime Minister also congratulated his colleague and Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani after she too secured a seat inside the Upper House of the Parliament of India.

"Congratulations to BJP President @AmitShah & ministerial colleague @smritiirani on getting elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat," the Prime Minister's tweet read.

Image of Ahmed Patel: Official Twitter handle of Ahmed Patel.
Image of Amit Shah: Official Twitter handle of Amit Shah.
Image of Smriti Irani: Official Facebook page of Smriti Zubin Irani.