The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced polls to 18 Rajya Sabha seats to be held on June 19, while counting of votes will be held on same day.
The 18 vacancies includes two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand apart from four vacancies each in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, three each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and one each in Meghalaya and Manipur.
The elections to 18 Rajya Sabha seats were deferred owing to the lockdown necessitated to check Covid 19 transmission. The ECI decided to hold the election based on Home Ministry’s May 30 guidelines and inputs from the Chief Electoral Officers of the States concerned.
For two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand the main fight is between JMM, BJP and Congress. JMM candidate Shibu Soren is likely to be elected unopposed while in second seat the election is necessary. For the second seat BJP state president Deepak Prakash and Congress candidate Shahzada Anwar are in fray.
Both the JMM and BJP have welcomed the ECI decision to hold Rajya Sabha election. JMM general secretary and spokesperson, Supriyo Bhattacharaya said, “JMM welcomes the decision of ECI to hold the pending Rajya Sabha election. The party is confident that UPA nominees will win maximum seats including two Rajya Sabha seats of Jharkhand. The party is hundred per cent sure of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren’s victory in one seat, while in other seat the Congress candidate who is supported by JMM and RJD too will win the election.” The JMM leader claimed that UPA candidate will be benefitted with inner conflict of BJP and its ally partners.
The BJP too has welcomed holding of Rajya Sabha election and the party too is confident of victory of its nominee. BJP state vice president Pradeep Verma said, “We welcome the decision of ECI to hold pending Rajya Sabha election. The party candidate Deepak Prakash will easily win the election as the number is in favor of BJP candidate.” Verma, claimed that apart from BJP members supporting Prakash’s candidature he is also getting support from independents and AJSU party.
For winning the election, JMM requires the support 27 MLAs and the party has support of 29 MLAs in such situation JMM Chief Shibu Soren is sure to enter Rajya Sabha. After the first preference 27 MLAs, 52 MLAs are left and then any party needs the support of 27 MLAs as first preference for winning the election. BJP has 25 MLAs and including Marandi the strength the party is 26. The party requires the support of only one MLA for sailing the Rajya Sabha election.
The party also has support of independent legislators including Jamshedpur east MLA Saryu Roy for supporting Prakash.
The saffron party has also got support of Amit Yadav the independent MLA from Barkatha. BJP ally AJSU party which has two MLAs have also supported Prakash.