BJP is upbeat as the use of the Open Ballot system, introduced through an amendment to the Representation of People Act 1951 in 2003, is set to dictate the voting process.
Section 59 of the Act mandates that votes for Rajya Sabha seats must be cast openly, with no provision for proxy votes.
Under this system, voters must openly display their vote, failure to do so could result in the ballot being invalidated by the presiding officer.
Furthermore, any display of the ballot to individuals other than one's own party agent renders the vote null and void under the voting process.
However, intriguingly, if a voter chooses to go against their party's official nominee but still shows their vote to their party agent, the vote remains valid.
This method has eliminated the use of whips by any party to ensure votes in favor of their candidate.
Additionally, members who vote against their party line cannot be disqualified from their position in the House- Vidhan Sabha.
The upcoming elections in Shimla have intensified as BJP's candidate, Harsh Mahajan, enters the fray with the hope of securing victory, despite facing numerical odds in the Vidhan Sabha with only 25 MLAs.
Meanwhile, the Congress, boasting 40 MLAs, pins its hopes on Abhishek Manu Singhvi to clinch the coveted Rajya Sabha seat.
As the political battleground heats up, all eyes are on Shimla to witness the outcome of this fiercely contested election, where every vote of MLA counts under the Open Ballot system.
