Media baron Subhash Chandra wins Rajya Sabha poll; Congress, INLD blame each other

Chandigarh: Media baron Subhash Chandra was on Saturday elected to the Rajya Sabha from Haryana, triggering a blame game involving the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). At least 14 votes were rejected in the 90-member assembly. There was high drama in the assembly complex and counting of votes was delayed for over two hours following objections raised by various parties. Union minister Birender Singh was also elected to the Rajya Sabha. He secured 40 votes. Chandra, an independent candidate supported by the BJP, scraped through amid political drama during the vote count. He defeated another independent candidate, Delhi-based lawyer R.K. Anand, who was supported by the INLD and the Congress. While Chandra got 24 votes, Anand managed only 15. Leader of opposition and INLD leader Abhay Chautala accused Congress legislators of getting their votes rejected during the election on Saturday. But Congress legislator Karan Singh Dalal blamed the INLD for Anand's defeat. "No votes of the Congress were rejected. You can check from the assembly records. INLD legislators got their votes rejected after Anand (supported earlier by the INLD) expressed faith in the Congress leadership," Dalal alleged. He said that only the vote of Congress legislator and spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala was rejected. Surjewala's vote was cancelled following an objection raised by BJP chief whip Gian Chand Gupta. Surjewala allegedly showed his vote to another party leader, Kiran Chaudhary. While Birender Singh's election was a foregone conclusion, the fight was between the BJP-supported Chandra and the INLD-Congress backed Anand. On Friday, the Congress openly came out in support of Anand. The INLD and Congress have 19 and 17 legislators in the Haryana assembly respectively. Had they all voted for Anand, he would have won easily. BJP minister Ram Bilas Sharma and Anil Vij said the party was always confident of winning both Rajya Sabha seats in the election.