Karanpur Assembly Seat Result: Congress Wins Against BJP's Cabinet Min, Gehlot Calls It 'Slap By People'

Congress Leader Rupinder Singh has won the Karanpur assembly seat of Rajasthan by defeating BJP's Cabinet minister. Former CM Ashok Gehlot said that it is a slap by the people to BJP.

Congress MLA Rupinder Singh ( Image Source :X/@vijaythottathil )

Congress leader Rupinder Singh emerged triumphant in the polls for the Karanpur assembly seat today by 11,283 votes. The election in the Karanpur assembly constituency had been postponed earlier owing to the untimely demise of the then MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

Rajasthan minister Surendra Pal Singh loses Karanpur assembly election to Rupinder Singh Koonar of Congress by 11,283 votes: EC

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 8, 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had put forward Surendra Pal Singh as their contender against the Congress candidate in this election.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, announcing Surendra Singh's defeat, asserted that the people of Karanpur had effectively thwarted the Bharatiya Janata Party's ambitions. Gehlot, in a statement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter)  remarked, "People have taught BJP a lesson, which flouted the Model Code of Conduct by making its candidate a minister ahead of the (Karanpur Assembly seat) polls."

श्रीकरणपुर में कांग्रेस प्रत्याशी श्री रुपिन्दर सिंह कुन्नर को जीत की हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं। यह जीत स्व. गुरमीत सिंह कुन्नर के जनसेवा कार्यों को समर्पित है।

श्रीकरणपुर की जनता ने भारतीय जनता पार्टी के अभिमान को हराया है। चुनाव के बीच प्रत्याशी को मंत्री बनाकर आचार संहिता…

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) January 8, 2024

Speaking to ANI, Gehlot said, "...This election has given several messages...The arrogance of BJP and the manner in which they have abandoned morality...it is like a slap by the people to BJP."

#WATCH | On Congress winning Karanpur Assembly constituency in Rajasthan, former CM and senior party leader Ashok Gehlot says, "...This election has given several messages...The arrogance of BJP and the manner in which they have abandoned morality...it is like a slap by the… pic.twitter.com/airwcnEwBP

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2024

It's worth noting that BJP's Surendra Pal Singh, who was not an MLA, was appointed to a cabinet rank by the newly elected BJP-led Rajasthan government. 

As outlined in Articles 75(5) and 164(4) of the constitutional provisions stipulate that a minister who remains a non-member of either House of Parliament or state legislature for six consecutive months shall cease to hold the ministerial position at the end of that period.

In simpler terms, while an individual appointed as a minister is not required to be a member of Parliament or state legislature at the time of their appointment, they must secure election to either body within six months from the date of their appointment to sustain their position. The apparent violation of this constitutional provision by the BJP has added another layer to the post-election discourse in Karanpur.