New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh’s Rajya Sabha elections have taken an interesting turn with Ajit Singh announcing support to Samajwadi Party and Congress. This announcement can hurt the chances of BJP-supported candidate Preeti Mahapatra. Votes for Rajya Sabha would be cast on June 11 in UP Assembly.
The election decibel is rising in Lucknow just four days before the voting. When political leaders were busy strategizing for the elections, Ajit Singh’s party Rashtriya Lokdal decided to support Congress and Samajwadi Party to stop BJP.
For 11 seats in Rajya Sabha, 12 candidates are in fray. SP has fielded 7 candidates; BSP 2, Congress and BJP have fielded 1 candidate each. However, with Preeti Mahatra’s nomination as an independent candidate, the electoral equation has become complex.
Congress is saying BJP was doing horse trading that is why they are supporting an independent candidate.
UP Assembly has 403 seats. Every candidate needs 34 seats to get elected. Samajwadi Party has 229 MLAs. So, the party needs 9 more votes to get all 7 candidates in Rajya Sabha. With Peace Party and Lokdal’s MLAs, SP’s all candidates would win. BSP’s 2 and BJP’s 1 candidate would easily win.
However, Kapil Sibal’s election is in jeopardy. Congress has 29 MLAs and they need 5 votes to get him through. After Ajit Singh’s announcement, Congress has come in a position of comfort.