BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy has retained his post as Secretary (Administration) of the Constitution Club, extending his control to 25 years after defeating party colleague Sanjeev Balyan in one of the club’s most competitive elections.
Speaking after his win on Tuesday, Rudy said he had won by more than 100 votes and that his entire panel, which included members from different political parties, was also successful.
“It’s a beautiful victory for all the parliamentarians and all those who came to vote and endorse the relentless effort of the team for last two decades. It’s a beautiful experience,” Rudy told reporters.
The election saw an unusually high turnout, with over 680 valid votes cast from the 1,295 eligible current and former MPs. Fourteen candidates were in the race for 11 executive member seats.
Rudy, a five-term Lok Sabha MP, faced strong competition from Balyan, a two-term former MP from western Uttar Pradesh. The contest was seen as a BJP vs BJP fight, with Rudy reportedly drawing support from opposition MPs, while BJP votes were split between the two.
Prominent leaders from across parties voted, including Union Ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Piyush Goyal, and Kiren Rijiju, as well as Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Governors such as Himachal Pradesh’s Shiv Pratap Shukla also participated.
During the campaign, Rudy highlighted the new facilities and modernisation of the club during his tenure. Balyan, however, called for change, arguing that the club should serve MPs and former MPs rather than “outsiders” such as IAS and IPS officers.
