BJP Sends Rajasthan MLAs to Resort for 'Training Camp' Ahead of RS Elections

The move comes days after Congress made a similar move on 2 June, fearing horse-trading by the BJP.

The Congress shifted many of the party and independent MLAs to a hotel in Udaipur on 2 June, fearing horse-trading by the BJP ahead of the polls.

(Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan moved nearly 60 MLAs to 5-star hotel Devi Ratn in Jaipur's Jamdoli on Monday, 6 June, for a ‘training camp’ ahead of the 10 June Rajya Sabha elections, days after the ruling Congress made a similar move.

The MLAs were taken to the resort in two buses on Monday afternoon from the BJP office.

A BJP spokesperson said,

“This is a training camp in which the MLAs will be given training on the Rajya Sabha elections.”

The Congress had shifted many of the party and independent MLAs to Udaipur's Taj Aravali on Thursday, 2 June, fearing horse-trading by the BJP ahead of the RS polls.

Congress sources said more than 100 MLAs, including 12 of the 13 independents, are present in the hotel in Udaipur.

This move by the Congress came after three independent MLAs reportedly declared their support for media baron Subhash Chandra after he filed his nomination as an independent candidate with the support of the BJP.

The ruling Congress had fielded three candidates - Mukul Wasnik, Randeep Surjewala, and Pramod Tiwari - from the state while the BJP has nominated one candidate and is also backing Subhash Chandra as an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) national convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal on Monday night announced to give support to Chandra. The RLP, a former ally of the NDA, has three MLAs in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly.

In a tweet, Beniwal said that the MLAs of his party will not give votes to BJP and Congress, and will cast votes in support of the independent candidate.

Numbers Needed

The Congress with its 108 MLAs in the 200-member state Assembly is all set to win two seats.

After winning the two spots, the Congress will have 26 surplus votes, 15 short of the required 41 to win a third seat.

Congress leaders claim the support of 126 MLAs, including 108 from the party itself. The party needs 123 MLAs to win three seats.

Meanwhile, the BJP has 71 MLAs in the state Assembly, enough to get one seat in the Rajya Sabha this time.

After that it will be left with 30 surplus votes. Thus, 30 surplus votes of BJP and three of RLP (total 33) are with independent candidate Subhash Chandra. He is short of eight MLAs to win the seat.

Congress' One Person, One Post Policy

Meanwhile, several Rajasthan Congress leaders had to step down from their respective party positions on Wednesday, 1 June after the party's 'One Person, One Post' policy came into force during the recently held Chintan Shivir.

The vice-presidents of the party's state unit – Mahendrajit Singh Malviya, Ramlal Jat, and Govind Meghwal – resigned on Wednesday after securing ministerial posts, Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra said in a statement.

The party's national spokesperson and Rajasthan unit's farmer wing president, Sandeep Chaudhary, also resigned after receiving the chairmanship of a state board.

(With inputs from PTI.)