NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Former Maharashtra Governor Dr P C Alexander on Thursday won the byelection to the Rajya Sabha defeating his rival Suresh Keswani by a massive margin.
Alexander polled 201 votes, while Keswani could secure only 71 votes. Four votes were declared invalid.
While the present strength of the Maharashtra assembly is 282, 276 members cast their votes and six members remained absent.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Nationalist Congress Party member Mukesh Patel.
The absentees were Irrigation Minister Ajit Pawar (NCP), Pappu Kalani (independent), R M Vani (Shiv Sena), Hemendra Mehta (BJP), Radhakrishna V K Patil (Sena) and Babasaheb Gortekar (independent).
Alexander, who quit as governor on July 13, had filed his nomination as an independent and his candidature was supported by ruling Democratic Front constituent NCP and Shiv Sena-BJP opposition combine.
Though the Congress had not officially declared support to Keswani, according to party sources, it had 'orally' directed party legislators to vote in favour of Keswani.
Keswani has flayed Alexander for seeking Rajya Sabha berth from Maharashtra saying it was an 'immoral' act and sought to challenge the constitutional propriety on the part of a former governor to contest election from the same state.
UNI and PTI
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
