Rajya Sabha Elections: Congress fights hard in Himachal because of concern about cross-voting

Tuesday is the election day for the only Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh. The contest between Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and BJP candidate Harsha Mahajan is fierce, and there are rumors of cross-voting.

Despite the fact that the Congress has closely monitored its MLAs, there is still a significant risk of cross-voting since the BJP is counting on internal party dissension and simmering anger among the MLAs over the party’s decision to run a non-Himachali candidate for the seat when there are plenty of other candidates.

Prior to the Assembly elections last year, Harsh Mahajan, a former minister and three-time MLA who was close to the late Virbhadra Singh, the previous chief minister, joined the BJP. His intimate ties to the Congress MLAs are what he is depending on.

While the BJP has 25 MLAs, the Congress has 40 MLAs and three independents have also expressed their support.

Cross-voting, according to media sources, might mean problems for the Congress administration headed by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as well as loss for Congress candidate Singhvi.

Results of the polls, which are open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, will be made public by evening after the commencement of counting at 5:00 pm.