BJP v/s BJP for top Constitution Club post; Shah, Sonia, Kharge, 2 guvs vote

Stalwarts across the political spectrum voted Tuesday in a rare BJP versus BJP battle where two ruling party leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Sanjeev Balyan were locked in a direct contest for a top Constitution Club of India (CCI) post.

As old as the independent nation, CCI remains an elite gathering space for parliamentarians past and present and held elections today for the post of Secretary Administration and 11 executive committee members.

For over 25 years now, Rudy, a five term sitting MP from Bihar's Saran, has held the post of Secretary administration at CCI.

This year, Balyan, a former two time Muzaffarnagar MP, decided to challenge Rudy in what was seen as a sign of internal power dynamics in the BJP.

Rudy, who was asked to step down as Union Skill development minister in September of 2017, has remained on the sidelines of BJP ever since and is widely known to be out of favour with the top leadership these days.

His clout at the CCI has however only grown.

The criticality of today's election was evident from the eminence of those who turned up to vote.

Among voters were Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, cabinet ministers Piyush Goyal, Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh and others.

The opposition was represented by Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, actor MP Kangana Ranaut, former minister Smriti Irani among others.

Such was the confusion among new BJP members that they were seen seeking the counsel of seniors on who to elect.

Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut even said on record: "This is the first time we are seeing a BJP versus BJP election. For newcomers this is confusing so we are asking our seniors."

Former minister Smriti Irani likened the intensity of CCI polls to that of Lok Sabha elections.

"Electing a leader among leaders is a challenge but it shows signs of a mature democracy," she said after voting.

Two sitting governors -- Santosh Gangwar (Jharkhand) and Shiv Pratap Shukla (Himachal Pradesh) also came to vote.

Out of about 1200 voting members, 669 voted. This included 38 postal ballots which, sources said, favoured Rudy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not vote. Rahul Gandhi, it turned out, is not a member of CCI where being an MP alone doesn't lend anyone to become a Club member. They have to seek the membership.

At the end of round 13 around 10.30 PM today, Rudy was leading against Balyan with 186 votes to 158 and 325 votes were yet to be counted.

The buzz at CCI compounds on Rafi Road all day was the opposition had voted for Rudy, who ran his campaign on grounds of having transformed the CCI landscape.

Balyan, who had Jkahrkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, for support, however said CCI had over the recent past become distant from parliamentarians and bureaucratic lobbies ruled the roost here.

Rivalries apart, Rudy and Balyan today struck happy poses together with Balyan saying "whoever wins, a brother would have won."

Under the surface of calm though there were clear rumblings, with Balyan said to be enjoying the backing of top BJP brass.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju however downplayed this politics and said CCI elections were not about politics.

"It's an internal matter of MPs, not a party competition," he said.

With battle lines drawn, murmurs in CCI corridors were -- Western UP leaders across parties had backed Balyan while Rudy clocked the support of Congress led INDIA parties as perhaps even of the Shiromani Akali Dal.

The results are likely to be announced in the wee hours on Wednesday including for 11 executive committee posts where Haryana MPs Deepender Hooda, Navin Jindal and former Khadoor Sahib MP Jasbir Singh Gill were among 14 contestants.

Three positions at the CCI were filled unopposed today -- Congress' Rajeev Shukla and Jithender Reddy were elected Sports Secretary and Treasurer respectively and DMK's Tiruchi Siva became Culture Secretary.

ABOUT CCI

* Established in Curzon Road barracks in 1947, CCI was inaugurated at its current location by President Sarvepalli

Radhakrishnan in 1965.

* Governing Body elections at CCI were previously held in 2009, 2014, and 2019.

* Notable figures, including

BJP's Vijay Goel and former President Ram Nath Kovind, have contested past CCI elections.

* Lok Sabha Speaker is ex-officio President of CCI