Maharashtra: BJP facilitates Congress win in Rajya Sabha bypoll

Rajani Patil will be elected RS MP unopposed on Oct 4

The Bharatiya Janata Party paved the way for Congress candidate Rajani Patil's unopposed victory by withdrawing its official entry Sanjay Upadhyay in the Rajya Sabha bypoll. The development came after the Congress leaders' appeal to avoiding the contest because the vacancy has been created by the death of a sitting MP.

"We have considered the Congress's appeal and decided to withdraw our candidature," said state BJP president Chandrakant Patil in a statement. He said his Congress counterpart Nana Patole and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat had met Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis with an appeal. Congress leaders mentioned that since Rajit Satav's death had necessitated the bypoll and there is a tradition that such a contest is usually unopposed, Patil consulted the BJP's core committee about pulling out, the statement added. The state BJP president also congratulated Patil on her victory.

Congress leaders' visit and appeal to Fadnavis had created a buzz in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The two other ruling partners were of the opinion that the Congress's approach was unwarranted because the MVA had a majority in the state Assembly, which would be the electoral college for the bypoll, and the BJP's defeat was imminent.