Rajya Sabha, Council elections: It will be numbers game now
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BJP leader R Ashoka and JD (S) State President H D Kumaraswamy had held talks to explore the possibility of avoiding elections at least for the Legislative Council. DH file photo
Elections are on the cards both for the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council as talks between the BJP and the JD(S) for a pre-poll understanding failed to arrive at consensus.
The last date for withdrawal of nominations closed on Friday and elections to four seats to Rajya Sabha will be held on June 11 and seven seats to the Legislative Council on June 10. Polls have become inevitable as there are more candidates in fray than the available seats.
BJP leader R Ashoka and JD (S) State President H D Kumaraswamy had held talks to explore the possibility of avoiding elections at least for the Legislative Council. The BJP had suggested that the JD(S) withdraw its second candidate for the Council - S M Venkatpathi - and in turn it would allot all its second preference votes to B M Farook, the Rajya Sabha nominee of the JD(S).
On the other hand, the JD(S) had sought that the BJP withdraw its second candidate for the Council - Lehar Singh - in lieu of its support to the saffron party during Bengaluru mayoral polls scheduled to be held in September this year.
It will be numbers game now. In the Rajya Sabha election, a candidate needs a minimum of 45 votes to get elected. The ruling Congress with 123 MLAs can easily ensure victory to its first and second candidates Oscar Fernandes and Jairam Ramesh respectively and will be short of 12 votes for its third candidate K C Ramamurthy.
The BJP with 44 MLAs and the support of three BSR Congress MLAs can manage the victory to its candidate, Union Minister for State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman. The JD(S) with 40 MLAs is short of five votes to ensure victory to its candidate Farook. There are nine Independent MLAs whose votes will be crucial.
In the Council, a candidate needs a minimum of 29 votes to get elected. The ruling Congress can win four seats, while the BJP and the JD(S) can win one each. The BJP has 15 excess votes and the JD(S) 11.
The last date for withdrawal of nominations closed on Friday and elections to four seats to Rajya Sabha will be held on June 11 and seven seats to the Legislative Council on June 10. Polls have become inevitable as there are more candidates in fray than the available seats.
BJP leader R Ashoka and JD (S) State President H D Kumaraswamy had held talks to explore the possibility of avoiding elections at least for the Legislative Council. The BJP had suggested that the JD(S) withdraw its second candidate for the Council - S M Venkatpathi - and in turn it would allot all its second preference votes to B M Farook, the Rajya Sabha nominee of the JD(S).
On the other hand, the JD(S) had sought that the BJP withdraw its second candidate for the Council - Lehar Singh - in lieu of its support to the saffron party during Bengaluru mayoral polls scheduled to be held in September this year.
It will be numbers game now. In the Rajya Sabha election, a candidate needs a minimum of 45 votes to get elected. The ruling Congress with 123 MLAs can easily ensure victory to its first and second candidates Oscar Fernandes and Jairam Ramesh respectively and will be short of 12 votes for its third candidate K C Ramamurthy.
The BJP with 44 MLAs and the support of three BSR Congress MLAs can manage the victory to its candidate, Union Minister for State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman. The JD(S) with 40 MLAs is short of five votes to ensure victory to its candidate Farook. There are nine Independent MLAs whose votes will be crucial.
In the Council, a candidate needs a minimum of 29 votes to get elected. The ruling Congress can win four seats, while the BJP and the JD(S) can win one each. The BJP has 15 excess votes and the JD(S) 11.