Keen to take advantage of the bitter infighting in the Janata Dal (Secular), the Congress has decided to field a third candidate in the elections to the four seats in the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. The party, which has numbers to win two seats, is hoping to win the third one with the support of rebel JD(S) legislators, nine Independents as well as members of smaller parties.
On Friday, the Congress decided to field veteran leader Oscar Fernandes and the former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh for the two confirmed seats it can get from the State. Interestingly, the former IPS officer K.C. Ramamurthy, chairman, CMR Group of Institutions, is being speculated as the possible the third candidate. “While the candidate may change, the party will put up a strong fight and is confident of bagging the third seat,” according to highly placed sources.
With a total of 123 MLAs, the Congress would have an excess of 33 votes after electing two candidates. It would need 12 more votes to secure the third seat. This is where the party is working on getting the support of rebel JD(S) legislators, nine Independents, three MLAs of the Badavara Shramikara Raitara Congress Party, two Karnataka Janata Paskha MLAs, and one MLA each of Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha and Karnataka Makkala Paksha.
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Interestingly, JD(S) MLA B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan called on AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Digvijaya Singh in New Delhi, and assured him of support for the third candidate of the Congress. JD(S) MLAs such as N. Chaluvarayaswamy, Akhanda Srinivasamurthy, H.C. Balakrishna and Iqbal Ansari too are likely to cast their vote in favour of the third candidate of the Congress.
JD(S) plan
The JD(S), which has a strength of 40 MLAs, has planned to field businessman B.M. Farooq in the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on June 11.
With 44 MLAs, the BJP is sure of winning one seat, for which it is likely to field Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Consultations in Delhi
The Congress finalised its two candidates after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G. Parameshwara held consultations with party president Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Singh in New Delhi on Friday.
They also discussed candidates for the elections to seven seats of the Legislative Council from the Legislative Assembly, scheduled for June 10.
The JD(S) has decided to announce its candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls on May 29. “JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy will succeed in enlisting the support of party legislators to ensure the victory of Mr. Farooq,” said a senior party leader on condition of anonymity.
The last day for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls is May 31.