Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) MLAs said that they would not cast their votes until they are given a written assurance about the welfare of tribals, migrants and Dalits.

Votes of BTP chief Chhotu Vasava and his son Mahesh Vasava are crucial for both the BJP and the Congress in this election.

“We will not give our votes unless and until we get a written assurance. We are an independent party, which keeps distance from both the BJP and the Congress,” Mahesh Vasava told reporters.

Polling began at 9 am today in the State Assembly campus in Gandhinagar. The members can vote till 4 pm. The counting of votes will begin at 5 pm and the results are expected later in the evening.

A total of five candidates are in the fray for the four seats.
The BJP has fielded three candidates: Abhay Bharadwaj, Ramilaben Bara and Narhari Amin for the Upper House of Parliament. The Congress, on the other hand, has given tickets to two senior party leaders for the Rajya Sabha: Shaktisinh Gohil and Bharatsinh Solanki.