After Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced 3 candidates for the council polls, the ruling Samajwadi Party also declared to contest 8 of the 12 seats in the fray for the State legislative Council beinnial polls to be held on January 23.
The list included the name of Health Minister, Ahmed Hassan, who is also leader of the House in the present Council. With candidature of 8 candidates by SP and three by the BSP, now the probability of elections seems inevitable if Congress with 28 members in the Assembly gives its candidate. BJP would certainly contest one seat with 42 members in the assembly.
SP general Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav announced the names of eight candidates, with three being re-nominated, here on Sunday. The candidates are leader of the legislative council and state health minister Ahmed Hasan, Ramesh Yadav of Etah, Sarojni Agarwal of Meerut (all three re-nominated), Ramjatan Rajbhar of Azamgarh, Saheb Singh Saini of Saharanpur, Ashok Bajpai of Hardoi, Virendra Singh Gujjar of Shamli and Yashwant Singh of Mau.
Early in the day BSP president Mayawati had announced the candidatures of leader of the Opposition in the Council, Nasimuddin Siddique, Dharamveer Singh Ashok and Pradeep.
A candidate can win the seat in the election with 36 first preferencial votes. As per the strength BSP can win just 2 seats with 80 members in the Assembly but they have given 3 candidates. Ruling SP with 235 members and with support of the independents can win 7 seats and for the eighth seat they have to garner more support. Now it has to be seen the action of the BJP and the Congress. Nominations for the biennial polls will start on January
6.Term of 12 members of the council expires on January 30 in which 7 are of the BSP.