So, who will it be? Congress’ third candidate G.C. Chandrashekar or Janata Dal (Secular) candidate B.M. Farook?
With the window for filing nominations to four Rajya Sabha seats, closing on Monday, all eyes are now on the two candidates. The maths indicate that Congress candidates L. Hanumanthaiah and Syed Nasir Hussain would sail through, along with BJP’s nominee Rajeev Chandrasekhar. But, it’s the contest for the fourth seat that has perked interest. The second preferential vote is being seen as crucial for both Mr. Chandrasekhar and Mr. Farook.
“Rahul Gandhi has selected the three candidates from the list we gave him. According to our calculations, we will be winning the third seat too. Independent legislators and those legislators who are joining Congress will support the third candidate,” KPCC president G. Parameshwara told presspersons on Monday.
In the 224-member House, there are seven vacancies on account of resignation and deaths, and each candidate requires 45 votes to win. While the Congress, with its 122 legislators is assured of victory of its first two candidates, the strategic moves are for the third seat. The party is assured of support of seven JD(S) legislators and Ashok Kheny, who joined the Congress recently. It is also banking on the support of at least four Independents and the vote of Speaker K.B. Koliwad.
On the other hand, the strength of the JD(S), which originally had 40 votes, is down to 30 now as seven legislators have associated themselves with the Congress, two have resigned, and one died. The BJP has 42 members and is banking on the support of three BSR Congress members and a KJP member, which takes their number beyond the required 45. However, political watchers believe that with the current term of the Assembly almost over, there is a likelihood of dissenters, and the whip issued could be violated, in which case calculations may go haywire for the parties. The elections to the Rajya Sabha for the four seats will be held on March 23.
