Acid test for Cong. TDP in Rajya Sabha elections
posted on Jan 14, 2014 @ 10:54AM
Elections for the six Rajya Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh state are going to be an embarrassing affair to TDP and Congress parties rather than showcasing power. Each candidate should have at least 39 MLAs’ support to win Rajya Sabha seat. Congress which has 146 MLAs on the record can get 3 members elected without any difficulty. However, to avert polarization of votes, it decides to stall 4 candidates two each from Andhra and Telangana regions. It is planning to take the support of its allies TRS, MIM to get its 4th candidate elected.
TDP, which has 80 MLAs, is planning to allot one seat each to Andhra and Telangana regions. However, since around 11-14 MLAs of the party either siding with TRS or YSRCP may not come to its candidates support. So, TDP has to find ways to bridge the gap. It may woo the former Praja Rajyam MLAs and other MLAs of Congress paty for cross voting, who are angry with party on bifurcation issue.
The same way, YSRCP, which has just 17 MLAs on record if stalls one or two candidates and woos the Congress and TDP MLAs, who are planning to take plunge into it, TDP and Congress parties may find it hard to get their candidates elected.
The present strengths in State Assembly of the parties are: Congress:146; TDP:80; YSRCP:17; TRS:17; MIM:7; CPI(M):4; BJP:3; Independents:3.