Bengaluru: Tuesday (27th Feb) marks a crucial day for Karnataka as elections unfold for four Rajya Sabha seats. However, the unexpected demise of Congress sitting MLA Raja Venkatappa Nayaka has altered the political landscape, leaving Congress with one less vote.
With five candidates in the fray, including Ajay Maken, GC Chandrasekhar, and Dr Naseer Hussain from Congress, Narayanasa Bhandage of BJP, and Kupendra Reddy of JDS, the dynamics of the election have taken an interesting turn. The current focus is on Kupendra Reddy, needing 8 additional votes despite BJP’s 21 and JDS’s 16 votes. The question arises – where will these crucial votes come from?
The loss of Raja Venkatappa Nayaka has reduced Congress’s total votes from 135 to 134, making the third Congress candidate one vote short of the required 45 votes for victory. This unexpected development has heightened tension within the Congress camp.
While there is speculation regarding accepting the vote cast by the late Raja Venkatappa Nayaka due to an earlier signing by KPCC President DK Shivakumar, the final decision lies with the Election Commission.
To secure victory, Congress now strategizes to get one of its three candidates elected, needing 135 votes. Exploring options, Congress may rely on non-party MLAs, such as Lata Mallikarjun and Darshan Puttanaiah from Harpanahalli and pandavapura Constituency.
In this complex political scenario, alliances are shifting, with leaders from Congress, BJP, and JDS engaging in strategic maneuvers to secure votes. The fate of the Rajya Sabha election hangs in the balance, awaiting the Election Commission’s decision on the contested vote and the unfolding alliances. The previously straightforward calculation has turned into a political chessboard, adding layers of suspense to today’s elections.