After Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma, media baron and son of former minister Venod Sharma, defeated Congress general secretary Ajay Maken to make it to the Rajya Sabha early on Saturday, BJP state chief OP Dhankar thanked BJP-JJP MLAs, Independent legislators, Congress MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi for backing Sharma in the Rajya Sabha election.
Also read: Haryana RS poll: Kartikeya’s win shot in the arm for Venod Sharma
In a video message shared on social media, Dhankar said besides BJP-JJP legislators and independent MLAs, Bishnoi had heeded to his inner voice and voted for Kartikeya.
“I also want to thank Independent MLA Balraj Kundu for abstaining from voting. Due to joint efforts, Krishan Lal Panwar and Kartikeya Sharma managed to win the Rajya Sabha polls,” he said.
Eighty-nine MLAs except Meham MLA Kundu cast their vote for two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana on Friday. One vote of a Congress MLA was declared invalid and in late night counting, Independent Sharma were declared victorious, while Congress general secretary Ajay Maken lost the Upper House seat in a close contest.