JOIN USRajya Sabha polls: Independent MLAs upset JD(S) calculations
The calculations of the JD(S) have gone haywire for the Rajya Sabha elections with a dozen Independent MLAs hobnobbing with the ruling Congress.
All these days, the JD(S) was heavily dependent on the support of 12 Independent MLAs to win one Rajya Sabha seat. The JD (S) which is also facing internal rebellions is now not sure of the prospects of its candidate B M Farook. However, Farook on Sunday said he would file his papers. But he is yet to get the B form from the party.
Till Saturday evening, JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy was reasonably confident that Farook would somehow manage to get the required 45 first preferential votes, with the help of the Independents, to make it to the Rajya Sabha. But by evening, the scenario changed with Energy Minister D K Shivakumar taking the Independents into his fold.
Kumaraswamy on Sunday said Farook would be fielded whatever be the poll outcome. He said the 12 Independents had voluntarily him three days ago and extended their support to the JD (S). “But they have changed their mind overnight by saying they are facing threat from Congress leaders. The MLAs are giving excuses such as their constituency work may get neglected if they do not standby the ruling Congress. The same MLAs had complained that they are in no mood to support the Congress as the governance is bad,” he said.
The Independent MLAs are giving an impression that they would support K C Ramamurthy, who may contest as an Independent candidate supported by the Congress. The Congress is fielding only two candidates - Oscar Fernandes and Jairman Ramesh.
The Congress has not mustered courage to field Ramamurthy as the third candidate because it is short of 12 votes to win the seat. With Farook too working overtime to somehow win the seat, the Congress is hesitant to field Ramamurthy as its official candidate. Some Independent MLAs have claimed that Kumaraswamy has released an old letter of support, for which the Independents had signed some months ago. However, Kumaraswamy has disputed this.
Majority of the candidates for the Rajya Sabha and the legislative council polls would be filing their papers on Monday. The elections will be held for four Rajya Sabha seats on June 11 and seven council seats on June 10. The last date for filing the papers is May 31. So far only one Independent candidate has filed his papers for the Rajya Sabha polls.
The JD (S) and the Congress have convened their legislature party meetings on Monday. Each contestant’s nomination paper has to be endorsed by a minimum of 10 MLAs.
Poll schedule
Rajya Sabha polls with members of Legislative Assembly forming the electoral college
Total number of seats: 4
Last date for filing nominations: May 31
Scrutiny of nominations: June 1
Last date for withdrawal of candidature: June 3
Date of poll (if required): June 11 (between
9 am and 4 pm)
Counting of votes: June 11 (at 5 pm)
Legislative Council polls with members of
Legislative Assembly forming the electoral college
Total number of seats: 7
Last date for filing nominations: May 31
Scrutiny of nominations: June 1
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: June 3
Date of poll (if required): June 10 (between
9 am and 4 pm)
Counting of votes: June 10 (at 5 pm)
(Note: The nomination process for both Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls commenced on May 24)