In a big setback for BJP in the by-elections of Rajasthan’s Karanpur assembly seat, party candidate Surendra Pal Singh TT is trailing by more than 8,000 votes.
Prior to the by-polls, BJP made TT a minister in the Bhajan Lal cabinet, thereby his loss might put the BJP’s position in Rajasthan at stake in this election. He is led by Congress candidate Rupinder Singh Kooner.
According to the chief electoral officer, Koonar has bagged 90,098 votes so far while BJP candidate Singh has got 80,379 votes. Only one more round of counting remained.
Last month, during the election campaign, voting was postponed due to the death of Congress candidate and then MLA Gurmeet Singh Kunar.
Following that, when the by-election date for the constituency was announced, Congress had fielded Cooner’s son Rupinder Singh from this seat.
Voting for the seat was held on January 5. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra congratulated Koonar ahead of his victory.
BJP’s Surendra Pal TT had taken oath as Minister of State (Independent Charge) on December 30 in the Bhajanlal government at the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur.
With the trends indicating a win for Koonar, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, “The people of Karanpur have broken the arrogance of BJP. Congress candidate Shri Rupinder Singh Koonar has won from there.” “The arrogant leaders of BJP will have to understand that even if they make someone a ‘minister’, it is the people who make them ‘people’s representatives,” Ramesh said.
Gehlot said, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Congress candidate Shri Rupinder Singh Koonar for his victory in Srikaranpur. This victory is dedicated to the public service works done by the late Gurmeet Singh Koonar. The people of Srikaranpur have defeated the pride of the Bharatiya Janata Party.” Dotasra said, “The public has taught a lesson to the BJP, which flouted the code of conduct and morality by making its candidate a minister during the elections.”
When the constitutional institutions of the country forget their responsibilities, then justice is done in the public court. This mandate is a slap on the BJP’s “dictatorship and undemocratic policy”, he added.
(with agency inputs)
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