The celebrations were short-lived, though, as a reality check presented itself on February 27 with the Rajya Sabha election. Even as voting was under way, five SP legislators, including the party's chief whip Manoj Kumar Pandey, went to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. By evening, it was clear that seven party MLAs had cross-voted (one more abstained), dashing the SP's chances on what was a sure third seat from the state.
The RS poll was no sidelight intruding upon the main event: it had been one of the key considerations in the formation of the alliance in UP.
Altogether, 10 seats were at stake, with 37 votes needed to win a seat.
The BJP had nominated Sanjay Seth as its eighth candidate at the eleventh hour to spite the SP, who had already declared Jaya Bachchan, Ramji Lal Suman and former chief secretary Alok Ranjan as its candidates. The SP needed 111 votes to win all three seats but had only 108 of its own. So, the two votes from the Congress and one vote from Pallavi Patel (Apna Dal Kamerawadi leader) were crucial. In the end, it didn't matter as the SP's own MLAs did it in, and Ranjan lost.
This story is from the March 11, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 11, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Silent Revolution
A Growing Force, The Woman Elector In India Is Realising The Power Of Her Vote And Using It To ***direct Her Own And The Nation's Destiny
The Forbidding Fruit
The disturbed snow cycle, the price of imported urea, cheaper imports from the South Asian neighbourhood-the whole world, it would appear, has been conspiring against the apple farmers of Himachal Pradesh.
Chicken Soup for the Heart
Former veejay, actor and now travel influencer, Shenaz Treasury is out with a book based on past romances-All He Left Me Was a Recipe
CITY OF DREAMS
This anthology of stories about Mumbai is like the city itself-crowded and chaotic, but ultimately illuminating
Diverse Vignettes
Edited by Arunava Sinha, The Penguin Book of Bengali Short Stories is a landmark new anthology which includes several previously untranslated works
A BREATH OF FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Ganesh V. Shivaswamy brings a sharp and balanced approach to his three volumes on Raja Ravi Varma
Time Travel
An exhibition in Bengaluru is showcasing an unseen artwork by legendary artist Raja Ravi Varma
INDIA AT CANNES 2024
The 2024 Cannes Film Festival marks the first time in 30 years that India has a feature film in the Palme d'Or competition section. And there's lots more...
Cusp of Greatness
Shriya Pilgaonkar comes into her own as an intrepid reporter in Zee5's The Broken News
THE GREAT DISRUPTOR
Rapper SlowCheeta is trying to shake things up with his EP, Scene Mein Bawaal