Ahead of Rajya Sabha elections on June 19, the Congress on Thursday suffered a jolt in Gujarat after at least two of its MLAs resigned and a third one is said to be on the way out. The development can turn the Rajya Sabha elections into a close contest this time too.
Karjan MLA Akshay Patel and Kaprada MLA Jitu Chaudhary have submitted their resignations. Congress leaders said there are unconfirmed reports that a third MLA could also resign.
Congress leaders were taken aback when the trouble reported last night and frantic attempts by leaders, the party could not reach the MLAs.
“India is in the midst of its independent history’s biggest health, economic and humanitarian crises. The BJP, though, cannot think beyond putting all its energies in poaching legislators for RS polls, people be damned!,” AICC in charge of Gujarat Rajeev Satav had tweeted.
The Congress had suffered a jolt in March when five of its MLAs resigned, bringing down its tally to 68. The latest developments have left the Congress dismayed as it has injected an element of uncertainty in its plans to win two of the four Rajya Sabha seats.
The BJP has 103 members in the House and is in a position to win two seats. The Congress, which had 68 members after the resignation of five MLAs in March, will find it tough for win the second seat after the fresh desertions. The BJP has fielded a third candidate — Narhari Amin, a former Congress leader.
