After the distribution of tickets for the Chairman of district panchyats, the race for nomination to 36 seats of the UP legislative Council has begun in the ruling Samajwadi Party. The SP office is flooded with applicants and over a dozen applications have been received by the party for each seat.
Elected representatives of the three-tier Panchyat bodies and elected members of the urban local bodies constitute the Electoral College for the 36 seats from the local body’s constituency of the Upper House of the state legislature. These 36 sitting members are retiring on January 15next year.
The present strength of the SP in the Upper House is 29 and the party would make every effort to win a maximum number of seats to attain a majority in the 100 member legislative Council.
The BSP in 2010 had won 34 out of total 36 seats from the local body’s constituency which jacked its strength in the Upper House to 45. For the SP, attaining a majority in the Council ahead of the 2017, Assembly polls would be a big boost.
Moreover, ever since being voted to power in March 2012, the SP has faced teething trouble as the main opposition BSP is in majority in the Council. Several important bills have either been deferred or referred to the select committee due to this.
“The party is seized of the matter. The applications are being scrutinized and the candidates will be selected soon by the parliamentary board. We are confident of winning all seats as people have faith in CM Akhilesh Yadav,” said SP spokesperson Rajendra Choudhary.