After furious allegations of cross-voting, rule violations and hours-long delays, the results of the fiercely fought Rajya Sabha elections were declared by the Election Commission. Out of the 16 seats up for grabs across four states -- Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka -- the BJP won eight, thereby strengthening its position in the Upper House of Parliament.

In Karnataka, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman, Actor and politician Jaggesh and Member of Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) Lehar Singh Siroya won three Rajya Sabha seats for the party, Jairam Ramesh cinched one for Congress while Janata Dal (Secular) drew blank.

In Rajasthan, the ruling party Congress won three of the four seats being contested, while the BJP secured one. Congress candidates Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Pramod Tiwari and the BJP's Ghanshyam Tiwari were declared elected by the Election Commission late on Friday night.

Media baron Subhash Chandra, who contested as an Independent with support from the BJP, failed to get elected after polling an insufficient number of votes.

In this video, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot congratulates Pramod Tiwari, Randeep Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik after they registered victory in Rajya Sabha polls at the State Assembly on Friday night. Rajasthan state congress president Govind Singh Dotasara, Cabinet Minister Mahesh Joshi, BD Kalla, Raghu Sharma and other ministers and senior party leaders is also seen.