Vaghela, 5 supporters vote against Ahmed in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls

Gandhinagar, Aug 8 : Rebel Congress leader Shankersingh Vaghela on Tuesday asserted that he had not voted for the official party nominee Ahmed Patel in the crucial Gujarat state Rajya Sabha polls being held here. Five of his supporters too, stated they had not voted for Ahmed Patel and voted for the BJP candidate instead.

"I have not voted for the Congress, because Ahmed Patel is not going to win and there is no point wasting a vote. We have pleaded so many times to listen to the grievances of the MLAs but it is unfortunate that they did not listen," Vaghela told reporters after polling.

He claimed: "Four-five more MLAs from the 44 that the Congress is banking upon are also not going to vote for the party."

Patel needs 45 first preference votes to win his seat in the present House of 176 legislators. He falls short of one vote and believes that two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs and one of the Janata Dal-United will vote for him.

"I have full confidence that I will win," Patel put up a brave face.

When asked about cross-voting by Vaghela and his supporters, he shrugged, "So what (we never counted them)."