In a major setback, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Surendra Pal Singh was defeated by his Congress rival Rupinder Singh Koonar in the Karanpur assembly seat election. Singh alias TT had already been inducted into the Rajasthan ministry after the BJP won the assembly polls, bagging 115 of the 199 seats where the elections were held.
The election for this seat was postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate and the then MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar. The Congress later fielded Koonar's son, Rupinder Singh, from the seat.
Gehlot congratulates Rupinder Singh Koonar
Following the result, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot congratulated Koonar on his victory. "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Congress candidate Shri Rupinder Singh Kunnar for his victory in Srikaranpur. "This victory is dedicated to the public service done by late Gurmeet Singh Konnar," Gehlot wrote on X.
"The people of Srikaranpur have defeated the pride of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The public has taught a lesson to the BJP, which flouted the code of conduct and morality by making its candidate a minister during the elections," he further added.
'Congress party's influence not reduced'
Gehlot further said the Karranpur result shows Congress' power has not reduced despite losing the Assembly polls, and this will be visible in the Lok Sabha elections.
