RS polls: With EC order, BJP attempt to keep Ahmed Patel out completely backfires

The rules clearly stated that MLAs can show their ballots to their party's agent and no one else

The Election Commission of India, in a midnight order Tuesday, ruled in favour of the Congress party when it invalidated the votes of two rebel Congress MLAs for the election of three members from Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha. This ruling came as a huge boost for Ahmed Patel – political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi – who was contesting for his fifth term in the upper house.

With six MLAs deserting the party right before the elections and constant political manoeuvering by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress was seen struggling to retain the only possible seat