New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra on Tuesday filed his nomination as a BJP-backed Independent from Rajasthan. Now there will be a contest for the fourth seat here. However, Congress had already announced the names of three candidates and the BJP one. Last time, Industrialist and media baron Chandra had come from Haryana by winning the independent elections. "Two nominations have been filed. Subhash Chandra has filed as an Independent and Ghanshyam Tiwari as a BJP candidate. The BJP is supporting Subhash Chandra," BJP chief spokesperson Ramlal Sharma told reporters outside the Assembly building.
He claimed that both of them will win the elections.
"Ghanshyam Tiwari will win on the party symbol and Subhash Chandra will win as an Independent," he said.
BJP has 31 surplus votes left after winning its candidate. On the other hand, Subhash Chandra needs 11 extra votes to win. Whereas Congress needs 15 extra votes to win. Rajasthan has an assembly of 200 seats and a candidate in Rajya Sabha requires 41 votes.
Congress has 108 and BJP has 71 MLAs. There are 13 independents, 3 RLP, 2 BTP, two CPI(M) and one RLD MLA. BJP has confidence in independents for the fourth seat. On the other hand, Congress is confident of the support of 11 independents, 2 CPM and one RLD.
Essel Group President Chandra is the fourth candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections in Rajasthan with the support of the BJP. There are four seats in Rajya Sabha in Rajasthan.
Subhash Chandra has got the support of the BJP and is contesting from the third seat of Congress. The three Congress candidates are Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Pramod Tiwari. On the other hand, BJP candidate Ghanshyam Tiwari has been a former MLA and minister from the Vasundhara cabinet.
There is an assembly election in Rajasthan next year. The way Congress has fielded all three outside candidates in state, there is dissatisfaction among some Congress MLAs in the state and MLAs have expressed their displeasure openly.
"All our 3 candidates will win in the Rajya Sabha poll from Rajasthan. BJP fielded Subhash Chandra. They (BJP) know they don't have sufficient votes so what will they do. They will do horse-trading and spoil the atmosphere of the state," said Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.
BJP state president Satish Poonia said the party has spoken to Independent MLAs and administrators of other parties to decide in favor of BJP-supported candidate Subhash Chandra.
He said the challenge will be interesting and both the competitors will win.
"We have made personal and public appeals to Independents and MLAs of other parties to vote for the BJP supported candidate. There is internal fight and resentment within the Congress party which is affecting governance," he said.
"It is an opportunity for those who have concerns for farmers, youths and people of the state to teach a lesson to Congress," he said.
In the 200-member Rajasthan legislative assembly, Congress has 108 MLAs, BJP 71, Independent 13, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) three, CPI(M) and Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) two each and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) 1.
(With PTI inputs)