RS polls: BJP fields Nirmala Sitharaman from Karnataka

The BJP is sure to win two of the four vacant seats from Karnataka, given 121 MLAs BJP boasts of in the state assembly out of 224-member assembly. A candidate needs a minimum of 45.2 votes to win the election.

The Rajya Sabha poll in Karnataka is necessitated by the retirement of BJP's Sitharaman, KC Ramamurthy and Jairam Ramesh of the Congress party at June end.

A fourth seat is vacant after the demise of Congress leader Oscar Fernandes earlier this year.

In order to woo the Vokkaliga community from Old Mysuru region where BJP is weak, the BJP sprung a surprise by fielding Jaggesh as its second candidate for the polls.

A Sandalwood comedian, Jaggesh had quit Congress and joined BJP in 2008 in Operation Lotus that propelled the saffron party to achieve a clear majority in state assembly. The party had fallen short of five seats in that assembly elections.

As a gift, the BJP Jaggesh appointed him as Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Chairman. Later he was elevated as an MLC.

Karnataka BJP had recommended party treasurer Lahar Singh, general secretary Nirmal Kumar Surana, KC Ramamurthy, and women’s wing leader Geetha Vivekanand to give ticket for contesting Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka.

Lahar Singh can be fielded as BJP's fourth candidate if the central leadership clears his name. He has to be dependent on the support of the excess votes available with Congress and JDS where money power will have a loud say.

Ramamurthy, a former police officer and an educationist, had resigned as Congress Rajya Sabha member in the middle of his current term and was later re-elected as a BJP member.

He is a wealthy, land-holding hailing from Reddy community in Bengaluru and Surana belongs to Jain community, but he had opted out of the fray last week.

The Congress, on the other hand, is sure of winning one Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka, given 69 Congress MLA strength in state assembly.

Recently Jairam Ramesh who would retire as Rajya Sabha member in June, had a meeting with Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar and LoP in Assembly and senior party leader Siddaramaiah.

With the BJP fielding two official candidates and Congress expected to field one, all the parties would try to back the fourth candidate by splurging riches on him or her.

The last date for filing the nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls is May 31.

(With UNI inputs)

Image: PIB