Lawmaker From Mayawati's BSP Cross-Votes For BJP In Rajya Sabha Polls: 10 Points

Rajya Sabha election: Samajwadi Party is sure to win one of the 10 seats but it is anxious about being able to keep up its deal with Mayawati.

All India | Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Updated: March 23, 2018 11:46 IST

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Lawmaker From Mayawati's BSP Cross-Votes For BJP In Rajya Sabha Polls: 10 Points

Rajya Sabha Election 2018: The BJP is expected consolidate its position as the largest party.

New Delhi: The first case of cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha polls across seven states emerged in Uttar Pradesh, indicating that the fight for one of the state's 10 seats was set to be ugly. Voting is underway to fill 26 of 59 seats falling vacant; 33 candidates have been elected unopposed. The BJP is expected to gain about a dozen seats in the Upper House and consolidate its position as the largest party, but it is far from a majority in the 245-member House. The opposition Congress is set to lose some four seats. Contests are taking place in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Telangana. In Uttar Pradesh, where there are 11 candidates for 10 seats, it is a prestige battle with the ruling BJP out to avenge its recent bypoll humiliation at the hands of the Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's BSP.

Here is your 10-point guide to the Rajya Sabha elections:

Mayawati's party man Anil Kumar Singh has cross-voted for the BJP-backed candidate. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader came out and declared, referring to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath: "I am with Maharajji." Anil Kumar Singh attended a dinner at Mayawati's home yesterday, but later went to Yogi Adityanath's home. His family members were reportedly rushed to Lucknow by the BSP this morning, but the attempt to keep him in line didn't work.
The BJP has eight candidates and is supporting a ninth, an independent member. A party needs 37 votes to win each seat in UP. The BJP, with over 300 lawmakers, is assured of a victory in eight seats. The SP can easily win a seat. Mayawati's party, which has 18 lawmakers, will have the support of eight SP members, seven Congress members and one of Ajit Singh's party. With a BSP leader cross-voting, it is left two votes short.
Two jailed lawmakers - one each from the SP and BSP - who would have voted for the BSP candidate, are out for the count. Two independent candidates are likely to vote for the BSP candidate. "There will be no cross-voting, but yes, BJP MLAs will cross-vote in our favour," Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav told ANI.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is among the BJP candidates expected to sail through. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has fielded Jaya Bachchan and the BSP has put up Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
For West Bengal's five seats, there are six candidates. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool has put up four nominees and also pledged its surplus votes to Congress's Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The Trinamool and the Congress are set to win, with the Left fighting a token contest.
There are three candidates for two vacancies in Jharkhand. The BJP has fielded two candidates and the Congress had put up one. With only seven votes, the Congress is eyeing the support of 19 Jharkhand Mukti Morcha lawmakers besides other smaller parties.
In Karnataka, the ruling Congress has fielded three candidates for four seats but has enough to win two. The BJP has enough to send one candidate, Rajeev Chandrashekhar. With 32 extra votes, the Congress is hoping to win a third seat with help from rebel lawmakers of the Janata Dal (Secular).
For a single seat in Chhattisgarh, the ruling BJP has enough to defeat the Congress, which is short of seven votes.
For the three Rajya Sabha seats from Telangana, the ruling TRS has enough numbers to get two of its three candidates through without a hitch. It hopes to push a third candidate through, with the support of the AIMIM of Asaduddin Owaisi. The Congress has fielded one in a token contest. The opposition BJP and TDP would not take part in the Rajya Sabha election.
In Kerala, the Left-led coalition and the Congress-led opposition grouping are contesting the by-election for one seat. The Left has enough to win the lone seat with 19 votes to spare.