Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls: 2 independent MLAs decide not to vote over their demands

Just before the polling for four Rajya Seats in Gujarat began on Friday morning, two Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) MLAs said that they would not cast their votes until they are given a written assurance about the welfare of tribals, migrants and Dalits.

Votes of BTP chief Chhotubhai Vasava and his son Mahesh Vasava are crucial for both the BJP and the Congress in this election.

Both BJP and Congress are hopeful of getting those two crucial votes of the BTP.

The BJP, which has the strength of 103 in the Gujarat Assembly, requires two more votes for a comfortable victory of its all the three candidates. So for the BJP, the votes of the BTP are crucial.

But if these two votes go to Congress, the party may get closer to victory on both the seats, but may not get an absolute majority to win the second seat.

Congress requires 70 votes and has 65 of its own and one Independent MLA, Jignesh Mewani, supporting them.

Rajya Sabha election for four seats in Gujarat became necessary as the BJP decided to field a third candidate, taking the number of candidates in the fray to five.

While the Congress has fielded Shaktisinh Gohil and Bharatsinh Solanki, the BJP has fielded Abhay Bhardwaj, Ramilaben Bara and Narhari Amin.