Uncertainty prevails over March 26 biennial polls to 18 Rajya Sabha seats in view of the current lockdown. In Jharkhand the election is for two seats in one seat 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.With the term of 18 Rajya Sabha MPs ending on April 2, the polls are scheduled to be held on March 26.
As there is uncertainty the candidates too are confused.
A candidate who is in fray for Rajya Sabha election requesting anonymity said, “Even we are confused about Rajya Sabha election as no information has come from Election Commission regarding Rajya Sabha election. As the election is for 18 seats in different states the ECI has to take the final call.”Election Commission had declared polls to 55 Rajya Sabha seat on February 26.
After 37 candidates were elected unopposed and nomination paper of a TMC candidate for a West Bengal seat rejected due to technical reasons, polls to 18 seats four each in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, three each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, two in Jharkhand and one each in Manipur and Meghalaya — are due now.
Earlier, the Gujarat government has requested the Election Commission to postpone the March 26 Rajya Sabha election for four seats in the state in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, on Monday the BJP and Congress had separate meetings having discussion over Rajya Sabha election.
The BJP state committee today held a meeting which was attended by BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi, BJP candidate and state president Deepak Prakash and others.
The Congress party too held the meeting for Rajya Sabha election. PL Punia who has been made the observer of Congress party for Rajya Sabha election reached Ranchi and had discussion with Congress MLAs.
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.