Hyderabad, May 12: In all likelihood, the Congress might choose leaders from all the three regions to contests the Rajya Sabha elections this time in view of the sharp regional feelings that have come to rule in the state.
If the party finalises this strategy, then only one person from outside could get a berth in the Rajya Sabha from the state. Though there are several aspirants from outside AP, the party might nominate only one – either Ahmed Patel, political advisor to Sonia Gandhi or Union Minister Jairam Ramesh and pick candidates for three more seats from the three regions. The list of aspirants is endless and each one is hoping that the party president would remember him while deciding on the names of the candidates.
They include those who are retiring from Rajya Sabha now – V Hanumantha, JD Seelam, Girish Sanghi and N Janardhan Reddy. Others eyeing the Rajya Sabha include former Union minister Renuka Chowdary, Deccan Chargers owner T Venkatrami Reddy and former special representative at Delhi from AP Mallu Ravi. Going by the strength of the Congress party (with 156 MLAs) in the State Assembly, it will win three seats with ease. The main Opposition Telugu Desam Party with 91 MLAs will win two seats. As per the existing strength in the Assembly – 282 members (out of a total of 294), a minimum number of 41 votes is required to win a Rajya Sabha seat.
As for the sixth seat, besides the ruling Congress, the Praja Rajyam Party of Chiranjeevi with 18 MLAs has set eyes on it. However, the ruling party has the scope to win the seat with the support of MIM (having seven MLAs) and three independents who were already declared as Congress associate members.
Even if the TDP and PRP field its candidates in the election for the sixth seat, the Congress might not have any problem since it would have the support of the MIM members.
–Agencies