Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been nominated to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election from Telangana, scheduled for September 3. This by-poll was triggered by the resignation of former Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP K Keshava Rao, who recently joined the Congress.
The Congress party, which holds a majority in the Telangana Assembly with 64 of the 119 seats, is confident of Singhvi’s victory. This anticipated win would increase the party’s Rajya Sabha tally to 27, bolstering its claim to the Leader of the Opposition position in the Upper House.
Singhvi expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other senior leaders for their trust in him.
Singhvi’s nomination comes after a surprising turn of events in Himachal Pradesh earlier this year, where he lost a Rajya Sabha seat in a tie-breaking draw of lots against BJP’s Harsh Mahajan. Despite the Congress holding a majority in the Himachal Assembly, the unexpected tie led to a contentious loss and a subsequent legal challenge by Singhvi.
The loss in Himachal Pradesh also sparked political turmoil within the Congress, leading to the disqualification of six MLAs who cross-voted in favor of the BJP. These disqualified members, along with three independents, later joined the BJP, complicating the political landscape in the state.
As Singhvi prepares for the Telangana by-poll, the Congress aims to solidify its position in the Rajya Sabha, while overcoming the setbacks from the Himachal Pradesh election. The outcome of this by-poll could have significant implications for the party’s future strategies in the region and beyond.
