In a closely contested election at the Constitution Club of India (CCI), Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), emerged victorious against his party colleague Sanjeev Balyan. The election was for the position of Secretary (Administration) and was notable for being a rare intra-party contest that drew significant attention from across the political spectrum.

Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a seven-time MP from Saran in Bihar and a former Union Minister, has held the Secretary post unopposed for 25 years. Sanjeev Balyan, a former MP from Muzaffarnagar and also a former Union Minister, ran on a platform of change. The polling took place at the CCI premises in Delhi, with a high voter turnout of over 700 out of approximately 1,295 eligible members, all of whom are current or former parliamentarians.

The election saw participation from prominent political figures, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

The contest also highlighted underlying social dynamics, with Rudy, a Thakur, reportedly drawing support from urban and cross-party networks. Balyan, a Jat, is said to have mobilized backing from rural Hindi heartland MPs and some southern states through allies.

The Constitution Club of India, which was established nearly eight decades ago, rarely sees contested elections, making this only the fourth in its history. Other positions, such as Sports Secretary (Rajeev Shukla, Congress), Cultural Secretary (T Shiva, DMK), and Treasurer (AP Jitendra Reddy, former BRS), were filled unopposed.

Despite being framed as a friendly competition, the election involved intense lobbying, dinner diplomacy, and door-to-door campaigns, reflecting broader intra-party and inter-party dynamics. Rudy's victory ensures continuity in the club's administration, which he has been credited with elevating to a "world-class space". Balyan had claimed that the club should focus on catering to MPs and former MPs and not "outsiders" like IAS and IPS officers.

The elections for the Constitution Club saw a high level of engagement, with over 670 votes cast, marking the highest turnout since the Club began. Rudy secured 186 votes by Round 13 of counting, while Balyan managed 158.

Speculation also arose regarding political endorsements, with some suggesting Rudy had the support of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, while Balyan was seen to have the backing of the Home Minister.