Polling for the four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka began at the State Assembly in Bengaluru on Saturday. All 224 elected MLAs of the Assembly are expected to exercise their franchise from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the polling booth established in the State Secretariat. More than 80 per cent of legislators cast votes by 1 p.m.
Congress Minister D.K. Shivakumar and JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna entered into a verbal duel over the issue of Congress MLA G. Ramakrishna for seeking the assistance of Congress MLC Govindaraj for casting his vote. Later Mr. Revanna sought a CBI probe into the manner in which polls were conducted.
There is no vote for one nominated MLA. Counting of votes would begin at 5 p.m. and results would be known by around 7 p.m.
The Congress fielded its veteran leader Oscar Fernandes, former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh and former IPS officer K.C. Ramamurthy chairman, CMR Group of Institutions.
Forty-five votes required for a candidate to win. With a total of 123 MLAs (excluding the Speaker), the Congress would have an excess of 33 votes after electing two candidates. Since the party is short of 12 votes to elect the third candidate, it will be interesting to watch from where Mr. Ramamuthy will get the remaining votes.
The JD(S) with 40 MLAs has fielded Mangaluru-based businessman B.M. Farooq. With 44 MLAs, the BJP is sure of victory of Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in Bengaluru on Saturday morning and issued whip to all MLAs to cast their votes in favour of the party candidates.
The Congress is expecting the support of rebel JD(S) legislators, Independents (9), members of Badavara Sramikara Raithara Congress Party (3), Karnataka Janata Paskha (2), Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha and Karnataka Makkala Paksha (one each) to ensure victory of its third candidate.
Elections were necessitated following the end of tenure of Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu (BJP), Ayanur Manjunath (BJP), Oscar Fernandes (Congress) and resignation of Viijay Mallya (Independent).
