Karnataka’s ruling Congress party has fielded three candidates – former ministers Oscar Fernandes, Jairam Ramesh, and former IPS officer KC Ramamurthy.
Advertisement
Operation Kamala saw BJP winning over several Opposition MLAs who resigned from their party, joined BJP and won elections on its ticket that helped it secure comfortable majority in the Assembly. This time there it was being anticipated by some that the Congress MLAs are running unhappy with the government so they may opt for cross voting. It will be recalled that the Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Upadhyay, who could not fulfill his wish to enter the Rajya Sabha as a member of the upper house, has categorically said that there is need for introspection because Vidhan Sabha speaker, Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Singh Mahra and now Congress candidate for Rajya Sabha, Pradeep Tamta hail from the Kumaon region as well resulting in an apparent regional imbalance.
“As there is no directive from the Chief Election Commission so far on postponing or cancelling the election, polling will be held as scheduled on next Saturday from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. and counting will be from 5 p.m., at the Vidhana Soudha in the city”, Jha said.
“The JD (S) will definitely say the elections must be countermanded and I hope the Congress and the BJP will also take the same call”. Though BJP with 44 members in the assembly could ensure the victory of just one candidate, its state president B S Yeddyurappa has expressed confidence of getting Lehar Singh elected as the second candidate by wooing independents and members of a few small parties.
It remains to be seen if Chandra gets the support of remaining BJP MLAs after 31 are needed for Birender Singh’s win. With elections due to be held on June 11, five candidates are in the fray for four seats after the deadline for withdrawals expired on Friday. However, nomination by former Union minister and businessman Kamal Morarka on the last day dashed BJP’s hopes even as it accused the Congress of willing to indulge in horse trading as it does not have the sufficient numbers to elect a candidate. K V Narayanaswamy is the other JD(S) candidate.
Advertisement
The number of votes required to win a candidate in Rajya Sabha is pegged at 45, while the number of votes required to win a candidate in the Council elections is 29.
