– Raheem Khan
Jaipur, Jan. 9: As per the Karanpur assembly election results declared on Monday, Congress’s Rupinder Singh Kunnar defeated BJP candidate and Rajasthan government minister Surendrapal Singh TT by 11,283 votes.
In Karanpur, the assembly elections scheduled on November 25 were postponed due to the sudden death of Congress candidate and then MLA Gurmeet Singh Kunnar before the assembly elections. Then, the election was rescheduled on January 5 in which Congress nominated Rupinder Singh Kunnar, son of Gurmeet Singh Kunnar, and BJP nominated Surendra Pal Singh TT.
Expect Karanpur, elections were held in Rajasthan on 25 November, the results of which came on December 3, with the BJP winning 115 out of 199 seats.
The BJP formed the government and also included Karanpur Assembly candidate Surendra Pal Singh TT in the cabinet of Rajasthan. TT took oath as Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Agricultural Marketing Department, Agricultural Irrigated Area Development and Water Utility Department, Indira Gandhi Canal Department, and Minority Affairs and Waqf Department.
The Congress had criticized his inclusion in the cabinet, calling it a violation of the model code of conduct and also lodged a written complaint with the Election Commission.
During the election campaign, people were calling the appointment of TT as a minister a masterstroke of the BJP and the BJP was also sure of his victory, but the people of the area elected Congress’ Rupinder Singh Kunnar as the MLA of Karanpur. Kunnar got 94,950 votes. Whereas BJP candidate TT got 83,667 votes. At the third place was Prithipal Singh of Aam Aadmi Party, who got 11940 votes.
According to the rules, after becoming minister, TT has six months to be elected as MLA. But after losing the election, he resigned from the post of minister. Giving this information, Raj Bhavan of Rajasthan wrote on its official X account:
“Hon’ble Governor Shri Kalraj Mishra ji has accepted the resignation letter of Minister of State (Independent Charge) Shri Surendra Pal Singh TT forwarded by Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma ji with immediate effect.”
Whereas Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma wrote on his official X account:
“BJP candidate from Karanpur assembly constituency Shri Surendra Pal Singh TT ji happily accepted the mandate and resigned from the post of minister. He will again be dedicated to the development work of Karanpur assembly constituency.”
After the victory in Karanpur, Congress candidate Rupinder Singh said, “I express my gratitude to all the voters of Karanpur who, despite adverse circumstances and so much pressure from the government, despite many Union Ministers coming to campaign, rejected everyone. Democracy has won. He said that he will not disappoint the people of the area.”
While expressing happiness over the victory of Congress candidate from Karanpur, Sachin Pilot said, “Congratulations to Rupinder Singh Kunnar ji on his victory in the Srikaranpur assembly by-election. Public interest, public welfare and area work done by Gurmeet Singh Kunnar. The public had voted, keeping the development work of Congress in their heart. I am happy that the self-respecting people of Shrikaranpur have expressed faith in the customs and ideology of Congress and have chosen progress, prosperity and their secure future. The blessings of this mandate. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Shrikaranpur for this.”
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, while congratulating Kunnar for his victory from Karanpur seat, said, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Congress candidate Shri Rupinder Singh Kunnar for his victory in Karanpur. This victory is dedicated to the public service work of late Gurmeet Singh Kunnar. The people of Karanpur have defeated the pride of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Amidst the elections, the candidate has been declared a minister. The public has taught a lesson to the BJP which has created and flouted the code of conduct and morality.”
Rajasthan Congress State President Govind Singh Dotasara said, “When the constitutional institutions of the country forget their responsibilities, justice is done in the public court. Salutations to the self-respecting people of Srikaranpur. This mandate of Srikaranpur is against the BJP dictatorship. And it is a big slap on the undemocratic policy. Hearty congratulations to the victorious Congress candidate Shri Rupinder Singh Kunnar ji on his victory and heartfelt thanks to all the workers.”
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said, “During the Srikaranpur election, the BJP out of arrogance of power had made a mockery of the code of conduct by making the candidate contesting the election a minister. The people of Srikaranpur have broken the arrogance of the BJP. The Congress candidate from there Shri Rupinder Singh Kunnar has won. The arrogant leaders of BJP will have to understand that they may make someone a ‘minister’ but it is the people who make them ‘people’s representatives’.”
After this victory, Rajasthan PCC wrote on its official X account: “Government can appoint ministers, not MLAs!”
