Oppn-backed BJP MP Rudy wins Constitution Club poll

New Delhi: The result of the high-profile 'BJP versus BJP' Constitution Club election is out, with BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy emerging victorious over his party colleague and former MP Sanjeev Balyan, but it also brought to the fore the caste lobbies and divisions at work within the ruling party.

Rudy won the election by 102 votes over Balyan for the post of secretary (administration). Rudy, who has been at the helm of the Constitution Club for more than two decades, faced a challenger from his own party.

Balyan was actively backed by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and CM Ramesh, while Rudy enjoyed the backing of his party colleagues Shahnawaz Hussain and Congress leaders Deepender Hooda and Madhu Goud Yaskhi. A usual club election became high-profile because of the voters, more than the candidates involved.


Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, along with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, came to vote in the afternoon and presumably supported Rudy. From BJP's side, Union home minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and several Union ministers cast their votes.

With some party leaders actively backing Balyan, Rudy's candidature appeared to be an 'anti-establishment' one and that attracted the entire Opposition to back him in the election.

Post-victory, Rudy admitted that his panel has MPs and former MPs from all parties and voters voted across party lines.

Among the different issues discussed at the INDIA bloc dinner organised by Kharge, Rudy's candidature was mentioned, and a consensus was reached to back him in the elections. Another dinner in support of Balyan took place at the residence of CM Ramesh where leaders from the southern part of the country gathered to support Balyan.

Dubey was the face behind Balyan who claimed on Tuesday morning that Balyan will win. Sources from both sides told ET that it appeared that BJP's brass was behind Balyan and that made the election interesting.

During counting, two BJP MPs from Western UP - Satish Gautam and Bhola Singh - stayed inside the counting room in support of Balyan.

The election also pointed to the caste lobbies and divisions. With Rudy being a Thakur, it was evident that BJP leaders from the same caste were working for Rudy's victory, with some claiming that he enjoyed the support of a BJP regional satrap from his caste. Several current and former MPs from Bihar landed up in Delhi to vote for Rudy as some made it a 'Bihar Pride' issue.

Lok Sabha Elections Redux

This election was a postscript of the Lok Sabha battle where Balyan lost from Muzaffarnagar with BJP Thakur leader Sangeet Som openly opposing him. The club election was not expected to be on caste lines in the beginning. But with time, the play changed into a caste and state battle, something that the party has not been able to cover up in the recent past.

BIHAR POLL TALKING POINT

With Bihar polls approaching, the Opposition may try to present the fact that a person from the state, especially from the Thakur community, was sidelined by his own party in a club poll.