The election to the assembly seat was adjourned following the demise of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Kooner on November 15.TT was appointed a minister by chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma despite objection by the Opposition Congress, which termed the move as a violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) imposed for the election.
TT was inducted in the council of ministers as a state minister (independent charge) and was given the responsibility of Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Irrigated Area Development and Water Utility, Indira Gandhi Nahar, Minority Affairs and Waqf. However, it is not clear yet whether he would continue as the minister in the BJP government in Rajasthan. State Congress wrote on ‘X’ saying, “Government can make ministers, not MLAs (Sarkar Mantri bana sakti hai, bidhayak nahi!”
Former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot said on ‘X’, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Congress candidate Rupinder Singh Kooner for his victory in Karanpur. This victory is dedicated to Kooner’s public service. The people of Karanpur have defeated the vanity of Bharatiya Janata Party. People have taught a lesson to BJP, which flouted the code of conduct and ethics by making its candidate a minister during the election.”
State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra congratulating Kooner said, “When the constitutional institutions of the country forget their responsibilities, then justice is done in the public court.”
“Salutations to the self-respecting people of Karanpur. This mandate of Karanpur is a slap on BJP’s dictatorship and undemocratic policy. Hearty congratulations to Congress candidate Rupinder Singh Koonerji on his victory and heartfelt thanks to all the workers,” he wrote on ‘X’.
