Hyderabad, March 02: The resignation of 12 legislators including 10 TRS MLAs for their commitment to Telangana cause has come as a blessing in disguise for the Congress since it can now think of grabbing four Rajya Sabha seats this time.
Of the total six Rajya Sabha seats which are falling vacant in June this year, the Congress with 156 members is sure to win three seats hands down and the main Opposition TDP with 90 members could win two seats.
As against the requirement of about 41 MLAs’ support to win a seat, the ruling party is falling short of five members to win the sixth seat.
The six Rajya Sabha seats that are falling vacant are now held by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, V Hanumantha Rao, Girish Sanghi, JD Seelam, N Janardhan Reddy (all Congress) and P Madhu (CPM).
According to party sources, initially the Congress felt the need of taking the support of PRP of Chiranjeevi (with 18 members in the Assembly who included two from from Telangana region) to win the fourth seat. After learning that the PRP is also keen to get one seat with its support and following acceptance of resignation of 12 MLAs, the ruling party has now focussed its attention to get support of MIM which has seven MLAs in the House to win the seat. In return, it is likely to offer one MLC seat to the MIM.
The Congress with 156 members plus support of three independent MLAs and seven MIM members, is of the view that it might not need the support of the PRP.
According to Assembly Secretary S Rajasadaram, the quota (number of MLAs) required to win a Rajya Sabha seat will also change proportionately if any resignations of MLAs are accepted.
The present requirement of support of about 41 MLAs for each seat may change marginally following acceptance of resignations of 12 MLAs.
With regard to new candidates, the Congress Central leadership is looking at various factors, including caste and region to which the candidate belongs to, in finalising the party candidates.
In view of prevailing situation in Andhra Pradesh particularly the ongoing agitations on State’s bifurcation issue, the leadership may of fer seats to some new members particularly those having good rapport at the Central level.
It is learnt that Girish Sanghi (belonging to Vysya community), V Hanumantha Rao (BC), JD Seelam (Dalit) and N Janardhan Reddy are striving hard to get another term in Rajya Sabha. There is scope that Union Minister Jairam Ramesh may be accommodated from some other State in view of the prevailing political situation in Andhra Pradesh.
–Agencies