Gandhinagar: After completion of polling for four-seat Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat, opposition Congress party demanded invalidation of votes cast by BJP MLA Kesrisinh Solanki and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama. Congress’s objection delayed start of counting which was scheduled to begin from 5.00 pm but couldn’t start even at 7.00 pm.

Congress party argued that Matar MLA Kesrisinh Solanki was accompanied by a person who pushed his wheelchair. This person’s entry as per the Congress argument was unauthorized and therefore Kesrisinh’s vote should be invalidated.

A special observer as well as Returning Officer however concluded that a person who pushed wheelchair was a ward boy from Government hospital and not Kesrisinh’s personal aid who could matter for any influence. Also a ward boy was authorized for entry.

Congress also argued that cabinet minister and Dholka MLA Bhupendrasinh Chudasama’s vote should not be considered as his election from Dholka assembly seat in 2017 general elections was declared invalidated by the Gujarat High Court.

However a special observer and Returning Officer have found that the verdict against Chudasama in the Gujarat High Court was later stayed by the Supreme Court and therefore Chudasama had right to vote.

Returning Officer and Special Observer were in constant touch with the Election Commission of India for further guidance on this issue.

Even if these two votes are cancelled by the Election Commission, which MLA voter has given vote with wrong pen, then vote is considered cancelled. If some MLA voter has written ONE instead of ‘1’ on voting card then vote is considered cancel. If two votes are cancelled upfront and three more BJP votes suppose are found suitable for cancellation in the course of scrutiny before counting, then Congress can see hope of victory of its second candidate.

DeshGujarat