While Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy wants to nominate former minister Malladi Krishna Rao, as his party’s coalition partner, the BJP, is “very determined” to get its candidate elected.
The Election Commission of India on Wednesday issued a notification for the October 4 Rajya Sabha elections, following intense lobbying by both the All India NR Congress (AINRC) and the BJP for the lone seat in the National Democratic Alliance. Area.
Interested candidates can file nominations till September 22 after the notification comes into force. The last date for withdrawal of nominations has been given by the commission as 27 September. Voting will be held on October 4 from 9 am to 4 pm.
AINRC chief and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is keen to nominate former minister Malladi Krishna Rao (in the previous Congress government) for the seat, though his party has other contenders as well.
According to an AINRC source, an influential family with members in the party has also shown keen interest in nomination to the Rajya Sabha. “Within our party, things will be sorted out as the final decision rests with the chief minister. He is the final decision-making authority,” the source said.
However, the party’s headache lies in the fact that its key ally in the NDA, the BJP, is “very determined” to get its candidate elected to the Upper House. “This is part of the party’s strategy across the country to increase its numbers in the Upper House. So it is important that a person from our party is nominated to the Rajya Sabha,” said a BJP leader.
The leader said getting a member elected from the union territory is also important for the party’s expansion plans, especially in Tamil Nadu. Union Minister of State for Fisheries L. The names of Murugan and party local unit president V. Saminathan are being floated by party circles. “The final decision regarding the RS seat in NDA and the BJP candidate will also be taken by the party high command,” the leader said.
A BJP leader said party in-charge Nirmal Kumar Surana, who was here for two days last week, is likely to come on a second visit on Monday. When contacted, Mr. Surana said, “We are a responsible alliance partner and will definitely follow the alliance dharma. We will sit together and hold talks as was done during seat-sharing talks and cabinet formation.”
Political observers say the Rajya Sabha election will be the first test for the NDA alliance after the south formed its first government outside Karnataka.
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