Rajya Sabha Poll: Abhishek Manu Singhvi's 'Besharmi' Jibe At BJP After Shock Defeat In Himachal — WATCH

Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi extended his congratulations to Harsh Mahajan on his victory but jibed at the BJP over the election outcome.

In an unexpected turn of events in the Rajya Sabha election in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress witnessed a significant upset on Tuesday as Harsh Mahajan of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious against Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The senior Congress leader lamented the apparent shift in principles among legislators citing cross-voting as he slammed the saffron party's tactics to win the poll.

Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi extended his congratulations to Harsh Mahajan on his victory but jibed at the BJP over the election outcome. Singhvi remarked, "First of all, I extend heartiest congratulations to Harsh Mahajan, he has won. He deserves my congratulations. I would like to tell his party - introspect and think. When a 25-member party fields a candidate against a 43-member party, there is just one message -- we will shamelessly do that which is not permitted by the law...", as quoted by news agency ANI.

"...I would also like to thank the nine persons (MLAs) because they have taught me a lot about human nature, its fickleness or its resoluteness. They supped with us...So, I think we are bad judges of human character, they are obviously better judges of human character," he further commented.

According to PTI, Singhvi said, "All the nine MLAs who cross-voted had dinner with us on Monday night and three of them also had breakfast with us in the morning. But they voted against me."

He further remarked, "These legislators chose namakharami instead of namakhalali (treachery over loyalty)." 

‘Sold Out Their Honesty’: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu On Cross-Voting

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu joined Singhvi in criticising the BJP's tactics, suggesting that the motives behind the cross-voting were not rooted in principles or policies but rather other undisclosed reasons.

He also slammed the cross-voting saying, "...When someone has sold out their honesty...Nine cross-votings took place, three of them were Independent MLAs but six others sold their honesty...and voted against him (Abhishek Singhvi)..."

He remarked that cross-voting is against Himachal's culture. "Himachal's voters know that they sent the Congress to form a government for five years. They will not like this."

Leader of Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Jai Ram Thakur, weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu should resign on moral grounds in light of the election outcome. Thakur emphasised the importance of ethical conduct in public office, hinting at potential ramifications for the ruling party.