BJP fields an extra candidate each in Gujarat, MP, Rajasthan

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the elections to 18 Rajya Sabha seats on June 19, the focus has shifted to states such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. BJP has fielded an extra candidate each in all the three states to keep Congress on edge.
In 2017, Gujarat had witnessed a big fight between these two parties over one Rajya Sabha seat, which was eventually won by Congress’ Ahmed Patel. Six Congress MLAs had resigned just before the polls.

Now, Gujarat has four vacant seats and both Congress and BJP can win two each. However, BJP has fielded Narhari Amin as its third candidate. Also, five Congress MLAs have resigned. At present, the state assembly has 103 BJP MLAs, 68 Congress, two Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), one NCP and an independent. “BJP is using immoral means and has made five of our MLAs resign. But we are confident of winning two seats,” Congress candidate Shaktisinh Gohil said. “We need 35.01 votes for one candidate; we have the numbers.”

Congress is counting on two BTP votes and one independent to take its tally to 71 and win two seats. BJP needs 106 votes to win three seats. The party would need three more votes for all its three candidates to win.

In MP, it would have been easier for Congress to win two seats and for BJP to win one. However, things changed after Jyotiraditya Scindia moved to BJP along with 22 Congress MLAs. The new equation reduced Congress’ strength in the state assembly to 92. BJP has 107 MLAs, BSP two, SP one and independents four. To win a seat, 52 votes are needed. This makes it easier for BJP to grab the two seats of Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sumer Singh Solanki. “We are prepared for the elections and both of our candidates will win,” said state BJP chief VD Sharma. Congress’ Digvijaya Singh is likely to win. However, the battle for Phool Singh Baraiya may be tough.

Congress has fielded KC Venugopal and Neeraj Dangi while BJP candidates are Rajendra Gehlot and OS Lakhawat in Rajasthan. Congress has 107 MLAs in the 200-member assembly while BJP has 72. Independents and others are 21. To win one Rajya Sabha seat, a party needs 51 votes. Congress can easily win two seats and BJP one. BJP has fielded a third candidate to create trouble for Congress.