The Congress today officially announced that its five MLAs in Tamil Nadu would support its former ally the DMK's M Kanimozhi for a second term in the Rajya Sabha. This announcement ensures Ms Kanimozhi's re-election to the upper house. Her term expires next month.
Six Rajya Sabha seats fall vacant in Tamil Nadu next month. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's AIADMK and the Left together have enough numbers to win five seats. However, for the sixth seat the tussle is between DMK and actor Vijayakanth's DMDK, which has only 22 MLAs excluding its rebels who have now aligned with AIADMK.
Although 34 MLAs are required to win a Rajya Sabha seat, the sixth seat would go to the candidate getting highest number of votes and currently, the numbers clearly favour 45-year-old Ms Kanimozhi, the daughter of DMK president M Karunanidhi.
Last week, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which has three MLAs, disappointed the DMK by choosing to boycott the Rajya Sabha elections.
The Congress is increasingly seen as an untouchable to ally with in Tamil Nadu. It remains to be seen whether this understanding between the Congress and the DMK will revive ties for the Lok Sabha polls due next year. For the time being, the Congress also needs the support of DMK MPs to pass the crucial Food Security Bill in the Parliament which the party hopes could be a game-changer for a consecutive third term at the Centre.
Six Rajya Sabha seats fall vacant in Tamil Nadu next month. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's AIADMK and the Left together have enough numbers to win five seats. However, for the sixth seat the tussle is between DMK and actor Vijayakanth's DMDK, which has only 22 MLAs excluding its rebels who have now aligned with AIADMK.
Although 34 MLAs are required to win a Rajya Sabha seat, the sixth seat would go to the candidate getting highest number of votes and currently, the numbers clearly favour 45-year-old Ms Kanimozhi, the daughter of DMK president M Karunanidhi.
Last week, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which has three MLAs, disappointed the DMK by choosing to boycott the Rajya Sabha elections.
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The Congress is increasingly seen as an untouchable to ally with in Tamil Nadu. It remains to be seen whether this understanding between the Congress and the DMK will revive ties for the Lok Sabha polls due next year. For the time being, the Congress also needs the support of DMK MPs to pass the crucial Food Security Bill in the Parliament which the party hopes could be a game-changer for a consecutive third term at the Centre.
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