Liquor magnate Vijay Mallya and jurist Ram Jethmalani were elected comfortably to the Rajya Sabha when polls for 18 seats were held in five states on Thursday.
Mallya, who stood as an Independent backed by the Janata Dal-Secular from Karnataka, was support by ruling BJP legislators as well.
Jethmalani, who won from Rajasthan, caused a flutter in BJP circles in the state, with a section of the party’s legislators opposing their central leadership’s decision to back him. Some BJP MLAs were disinclined to vote for the Supreme Court advocate, saying he was an outsider.
Taking no chances, the BJP kept its flock of legislators in a hotel in Jaipur for three days to ensure they went straight to the assembly to cast their votes en masse on Thursday.
Elections to the Upper House were held in three other states — Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand.
The BJP won 5 seats — 2 each Karnataka and Rajasthan and 1 in Bihar while the Congress secured 4 — 2 in Rajasthan and 1 each in Karnataka and Jharkhand.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal in Orissa won all 3 seats in the state while the Janata Dal-United won 2 seats in Bihar while the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Lok Janshakti Party got 1 each. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 1 seat in Jharkhand.
{{/usCountry}}The ruling Biju Janata Dal in Orissa won all 3 seats in the state while the Janata Dal-United won 2 seats in Bihar while the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Lok Janshakti Party got 1 each. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 1 seat in Jharkhand.
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