YSRC won't vote for NDA pick in RS deputy chair polls

Amid speculation that its two MPs may vote for NDA candidate in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman elections, the YSR Congress on Tuesday announced that it will not vote for any candidate from the BJP or its allies.

YSR Congress's Rajya Sabha floor leader V Vijayasai Reddy told DH that a decision was taken by party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy after considering the recommendation of YSR Congress' Political Affairs Committee.

Vijayasai Reddy, however, did not make it clear whether the two MPs would vote in favour of an Opposition candidate or abstain from voting.

"We cannot vote for the BJP after what they did for Andhra Pradesh...not granting special category status. The YSR Congress is fighting the BJP," Vijayasai Reddy said.

The BJP floor managers were claiming that the YSR Congress, TRS and the BJD would be voting for them and that it could get 126 votes in the elections.

Sources in the BJD said both the ruling and the Opposition camps have spoken to them but they have not taken a decision. The BJD has nine MPs in the Rajya Sabha and if they decide to go with the NDA, then it will be difficult for the Opposition.

While the JD(U)'s Harivansh is the probable NDA candidate, the Opposition is mulling the candidature of NCP's Vandana Chavan and Tiruchi Siva. Nominated member KTS Tulsi's name is also bring speculated but the majority of the Opposition parties are for fielding a political candidate.

Harivansh's candidature has not gone down well with NDA ally the Akali Dal. Reports claimed that the Akali Dal with three MPs are likely to abstain but NDA sources said such an eventuality is unlikely.