New Delhi, August 13(HS): In a fiercely fought electoral battle that drew the attention of India’s political elite, senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy has once again cemented his quarter-century dominance over the Constitution Club of India. On Tuesday, Rudy triumphed over Union Minister and fellow BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan by a clear margin of 100 votes, securing his position as Secretary of this prestigious institution.
The contest, held after an extraordinary 20-year gap for the top post, was marked by rare bipartisan participation. For the first time, political heavyweights from both sides of the aisle cast their ballots — including Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda, and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
When the votes were counted in the early hours of Wednesday, Rudy emerged with 391 votes to Balyan’s 291, out of a remarkable 1,295 votes cast from the club’s nearly 1,300-member roster.
Other key posts were filled without contest: Rajiv Shukla (Sports Secretary), Tiruchi Siva (Cultural Secretary), and Jitendra Reddy (Treasurer).
Addressing the media after his victory was announced at 4 a.m., Rudy called the outcome “a collective win” for his panel, which brought together an unusual alliance of leaders from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and independents alongside BJP supporters.
Founded to foster camaraderie among Members of Parliament beyond party divides, the Constitution Club of India has long been a symbol of political networking and prestige. Tuesday’s election, with its record participation and high-profile contenders, has now etched itself into the club’s history as one of its most consequential battles.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
