RS polls: JD(S) rebels all set to help Congress win extra seat

The ruling Congress, which is planning to win three of the four Rajya Sabha seats for which the elections are to be held on March 23, is again banking on the seven JD(S) rebel MLAs.

With 122 MLAs on its side, the Congress can comfortably win two seats. It is falling short of MLAs to win another seat. Support of the seven MLAs and some independent legislators is crucial for the party for this purpose. A candidate requires approximately 45 votes to win the election, in which MLAs are the voters.

These rebel MLAs of the JD(S) had helped the Congress win an additional seat in the Rajya Sabha elections in 2016. They defied the JD(S) whip and voted in favour of Congress candidate.

The JD(S) subsequently suspended them. The rebel MLAs have now decided to join the Congress.

No sooner the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the calendar of events for the Rajya Sabha elections, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a dinner meeting with the rebel MLAs at the Bengaluru residence of Nagamangala MLA N Cheluvarayaswamy.

According to sources, Siddaramaiah is learnt to have asked the MLAs to stay put in the JD(S) until the Rajya Sabha elections are held so that they cast their votes in favour of the Congress.

The MLAs are likely to join the Congress in the presence of party chief Rahul Gandhi during a mega rally to be held in Bengaluru after March 24.

Elections are being held to the four seats in Karnataka as term of four MPs -- Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Independent), K Rahman Khan (Congress) and R Ramakrishna and Basavaraj Patil Sedam (both BJP) – is coming to end.

Khan, who has completed four terms in the Rajya Sabha, is apparently vying for a fifth term. As the party has assured the seat to a minority leader, many Muslim leaders including Minister R Roshan Baig, former minister A M Hindasgeri and MLC C M Ibrahim are said to be lobbying for it.

Former minister Rani Satish and H Hanumanthappa are also lobbying to become MPs. However, the party high command will take the decision on the candidates.

The BJP, which has 43 MLAs, can win a seat in the elections. It is speculated that it may support Rajiv Chandrashekar's candidature if he contests the elections.

The JD(S) may not field any candidate as it lacks the numerical strength. Sources in the party, however, said that B M Farooq and JD(S) national general secretary Danish Ali are aspiring to contest.