The results of the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls on May 19 will have an immediate bearing on the national scene with elections to six State vacancies in the Rajya Sabha taking place in June.
If the DMK-Congress combine manages to put up a good show, as indicated by the exit polls, the two of them may be able to elect four members between them to the Rajya Sabha.
Among the six seats, the AIADMK currently holds three, the DMK two and the Congress one. Those retiring are A. Navaneethakrishnan, A.W. Rabi Bernard and P.H. Paul Manoj Pandian of the AIADMK; K.P. Ramalingam and S. Thangavelu of the DMK; and former Union Minister Sudarsana Natchiappan of the Congress.
Depending on DMKGiven the six vacancies, official sources said each candidate may have to secure a minimum of 33 votes to win. Interestingly, the Congress is contesting only 41 seats in the Assembly polls. If it does not have the required 33 votes, the party would have to depend on the DMK to win one of the seats.
The party is confident that the DMK would accommodate at least one Congress nominee, who, sources say, could be former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. “In 2013, we [Congress] supported DMK leader Kanimozhi and helped her enter the Rajya Sabha for the second time. I guess the DMK will do us the favour this time,” said a senior Tamil Nadu Congress leader.
Sources added that while Mr. Natchiappan had a good image with the party high command and may seek another term, the Congress could opt for Mr. Chidambaram if he was not averse to entering the Upper House.
Preferred routeThe former Union Finance Minister has preferred the Lok Sabha route, to which he has been elected seven times in the past. The notification for the Rajya Sabha polls would be issued on May 24 and the polling will take place on June 11.
