Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid termed Anand’s defeat by BJP-backed media baron and Independent candidate Subhash Chandra (above) as a setback and disappointing. Hooda, who had been at the helm of the state as Congress chief minister for 10 years, was apparently feeling uneasy ever since Ashok Tanwar was made state party chief by Rahul Gandhi. Only yesterday, the Congress Legislature Party at its meeting had authorised party chief Sonia Gandhi to decide on who to vote for and she had directed voting in favour of Anand. Congress spokesman R P N Singh accused the Modi government of using money and muscle power to win these elections. I am sure the general secretary concerned will look into the reasons of invalidity of the Congress votes,” he said.

Source: Indian Express June 11, 2016 16:41 UTC