As the Friday’s Rajya Sabha polls are interestingly poised, Karnataka Congress is confident of getting three seats with the help of rebel JD(S) MlAs and Independents. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led ruling Congress did not heed to the political pressure of the JDs but adamant to get the fourth person elected to prove a point in the process of changing political equations.
The biennial election to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka legislative Assembly to fill in four seats are keenly contested. Observers say there will be a tough fight for the fourth seat between the Congress and the JD(S) with three seats already assured for the ruling Congress (2) and the BJP (1).
According to senior Congress leader and MlC Mohan Kondajji the congress will win four seats without the help of JDs rebels as predicted. He said, “We are going to win the fourth seat and CM and the party is confident that the independents and extra votes will fetch the crucial fourth seat.” Mohan expects in all probability the JDs rebels will vote for the Congress candidate making it possible for the party to secure three candidates to the upper house. Mohan Kondajji is the voting agent for the Cong and expects extra votes also coming from second preferential votes. The fight for the fourth seat will be between BM Farook of the JD(S) and RC Chandrasekhar of the Congress. In the process the JD(S) led by former PM HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy are making all attempt to ensure that its rebel legislators are prevented from voting.