Patel wins Gujarat Rajya Sabha election

In a jolt to BJP, Congress candidate Ahmed Patel on Wednesday scraped through to notch a victory in a bitterly-contested Rajya Sabha election against all out efforts of the BJP to check his attempt to seek a fifth term.

Patel, 68, the powerful political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, is said to have secured 44 votes defeating Congress defector Balwantsinh Rajput.

The other two successful candidates in the election were BJP President Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani.

"Satyamev Jayate (Truth alone triumphs). This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery," Patel tweeted soon after he won.

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who was part of a Congress delegation that met the Election Commission on Tuesday seeking rejection of votes of two Congress rebels said: "Money, muscle and manipulation could not win in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections."

"BJP can break a few weak Congress MLAs but BJP cannot break the Congress party," he said in his reaction.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel after emerging victorious in the high-pitch battle between the BJP and Congress over the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat said "BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror".

"Satyameva Jayate. This is not just my victory. It is a defeat of the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery," said Patel on Twitter.

"I want to thank each and every MLA who voted for me despite unprecedented intimidation and pressure from BJP. They voted for an inclusive India," he added.

Patel also thanked party President Sonia Gandhi for the victory.

He also said it was one of his most difficult elections. "This was a tough election, but we fought it like a family."

Patel also said: "BJP stands exposed of personal vendetta and political terror. People of Gujarat will give them a befitting reply in this year's election."

He also said that Congress party will be strengthened and emerge victorious in future elections under the leadership of party Vice President Rahul Gandhi.