Chennai:
With the Communist Party of India (CPI) nominating its sitting MP D Raja for a re-election to the Upper House, the electoral battle for Rajya Sabha turned interesting in Tamil Nadu.
Six seats from Tamil Nadu would fall vacant next month and with Mr D Raja's entry, seven members are now in the fray. The CPI's hopes of support by its ally, the ruling AIADMK, crashed after the party announced five candidates. The Left combine has 18 MLAs in the state but it requires support of 16 more to ensure Mr Raja's victory.
The Left combine are hoping to win the support of actor Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam or the DMDK which has 29 MLAs. However, seven of the rebel DMDK leaders are likely to vote for the ruling AIADMK of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
The ruling AIADMK has 150 MLAs in the 235-member Assembly, and is still short of 20 seats to ensure victory of all its five candidates. Besides banking on a few of its small allies, the AIADMK is counting on the support of the seven rebel MLAs of the DMDK.
The DMK which has 23 MLAs has already nominated party chief M Karunanidhi's daughter M Kanimozhi for a second term in the Upper House. Her current term ends in July. Short of 11 MPs to ensure her victory, their party too, sources say, is banking on support of the DMDK. However, they are also not ruling out support of its former ally the Congress which has five seats, and Pattali Makkal Katch (PMK) which has three, say sources.
The Congress is presently seen as an untouchable by many parties in Tamil Nadu due to what they call as UPA's anti-Tamil stand in the Lankan Tamils issue. Hence, not many parties are openly seeking the support of its five MLAs. The DMK had snapped ties with the Congress in March over the Lankan Tamils issue.
Interestingly, actor Vijayakanth has not made up his mind on nominating his own party member, say sources. Insiders say he wants to settle scores with former ally the ruling AIADMK. If he decides to support the DMK and the Left, Amma's fifth candidate may not make it to the Rajya Sabha.
With hectic lobbying on quietly, there is speculation that the situation could lead to horse trading. The emerging voting pattern in Rajya Sabha elections could also indicate the political re-alignment in Tamil Nadu for the Lok Sabha polls due next year.
Six seats from Tamil Nadu would fall vacant next month and with Mr D Raja's entry, seven members are now in the fray. The CPI's hopes of support by its ally, the ruling AIADMK, crashed after the party announced five candidates. The Left combine has 18 MLAs in the state but it requires support of 16 more to ensure Mr Raja's victory.
The Left combine are hoping to win the support of actor Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam or the DMDK which has 29 MLAs. However, seven of the rebel DMDK leaders are likely to vote for the ruling AIADMK of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
The ruling AIADMK has 150 MLAs in the 235-member Assembly, and is still short of 20 seats to ensure victory of all its five candidates. Besides banking on a few of its small allies, the AIADMK is counting on the support of the seven rebel MLAs of the DMDK.
The DMK which has 23 MLAs has already nominated party chief M Karunanidhi's daughter M Kanimozhi for a second term in the Upper House. Her current term ends in July. Short of 11 MPs to ensure her victory, their party too, sources say, is banking on support of the DMDK. However, they are also not ruling out support of its former ally the Congress which has five seats, and Pattali Makkal Katch (PMK) which has three, say sources.
The Congress is presently seen as an untouchable by many parties in Tamil Nadu due to what they call as UPA's anti-Tamil stand in the Lankan Tamils issue. Hence, not many parties are openly seeking the support of its five MLAs. The DMK had snapped ties with the Congress in March over the Lankan Tamils issue.
Interestingly, actor Vijayakanth has not made up his mind on nominating his own party member, say sources. Insiders say he wants to settle scores with former ally the ruling AIADMK. If he decides to support the DMK and the Left, Amma's fifth candidate may not make it to the Rajya Sabha.
With hectic lobbying on quietly, there is speculation that the situation could lead to horse trading. The emerging voting pattern in Rajya Sabha elections could also indicate the political re-alignment in Tamil Nadu for the Lok Sabha polls due next year.
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