Keeping a close eye on the current changing scenario before the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled to be held on March 23, independent MlAs of different political parties are adhering to wait and watch policy till the names of the candidates are decided. Meanwhile, they are also waiting for the political parties to call them seeking their support for their candidates.
There are at least six such MlAs Enosh Ekka, Arup Chaterjee, Rajkumar Yadav, Kushwala Shivpujan Mehta, Bhanu Pratap Shahi, Geeta Koda alongwith two MlAs of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, which may prove to be a deciding factor if get united.
“let the candidates decide first and then only, we will be able to assess the situation and comment on it. Until and unless candidates are decided, it would be too early to say anything in this regard,” said Nirsa MlA of Marxist Coordination Committee Arup Chaterjee. He however said that though he had got a call a call from UPA, he was yet to decide anything in this regard.
“If there is only two candidates, there will not be any problem…but if there are more than two candidates, things will get complicated and chances of horse trading will definitely increase,” said Chaterjee. He, however, said that he will talk to the lone party MlAs and try to bring them together so that they could have a strong say in Rajya Sabha Elections.
Another MlA of Bahujan Samaj Party Kushwaha Shivpujan Mehta said he was waiting for the parties to decide on their candidates, only then he will take a decision on the issue.
“As lone party MlAs have no coordination among each other, there is no point thinking on that direction. Yet, the final decision will be taken by the party high-command after the candidates are decided,” said Mehta. He cleared that he will never support any outsider candidate from the State.
MlA of Navjawan Sangharsh Morcha Bhanu Pratap Shahi averted to respond on the ground of his illness without opening his cards. “I am completely cut-off from politics these days as I am seriously ill for the last few days and would not be able to comment on this,” said Shahi.
Incidentally, two seats from Jharkhand will go to polls as terms of sitting Rajya Sabha MPs Pradeep Balmuchu (Congress) and Sanjiv Kumar (JMM) are slated to expire on May 03.
Congress currently has seven MlAs in the Jharkhand legislative Assembly whereas JMM has 19 MlAs. To get elected to the Rajya Sabha, their candidate will require at least 27 first preferential votes.
Despite their bitter fallout in 2014, the Congress and JMM on Thursday announced to join hands in the upcoming polls formal announcement was made in Delhi during a joint press conference by JMM Executive President Hemant Soren and State Congress in Charge RPN Singh.
Both Congress and JMM have claimed support of two MlAs from BSP and CPI (Ml), while the two JVM MlAs might extend support as well. This takes the overall tally of votes for Congress's candidate to 30. Congress, therefore, should have no problem getting its candidate elected to the Upper House.