Rebellion-hit JD(S) is now at BJP's mercy to win RS, Council seats

Bengaluru, Jun 2: The rebellion-hit JD(S) appears to be in dire straits as far as the elections to Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council are concerned.

Chances of mustering numbers to win the second Council seat looks tough at this point for the JD(S) following rebellion in the party. With five MLAs led by B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan threatening to switch their loyalty to the Congress, the party is left with only six surplus votes. A candidate requires a minimum of 29 votes to win a Council seat.

However, the JD(S), which has 40 MLAs, can easily win one Council seat. The party has fielded K V Narayanaswamy and S M Venkatpati as the first and the second candidates respectively. With total 44 MLAs on its side, the BJP will be left with 15 surplus votes. This has brightened the prospect of the saffron party's second candidate in the council polls. V Somanna and Lehar Singh are the first and the second candidates of the BJP respectively.

The JD(S) is not in a position to drive a hard bargain with the BJP. With talks between leaders of the two parties to reach an understanding remaining inconclusive, the BJP has begun wooing independents and other smaller parties.

The Assembly has nine independents, three MLAs of the BSR Congress, two of the KJP and one each of Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha and Karnataka Makkala Paksha. The saffron party does not need the JD(S)' support if it gets the support of independents and smaller parties.

The elections to seven Council seats are scheduled for June 10, while the Rajya Sabha elections are scheduled for June 11. The MLAs are the voters in both the elections.

With the Independents and MLAs of smaller parties announcing their support to the ruling Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls, the JD(S) is left high and dry. The party has fielded Mangaluru-based businessman B M Farook as its candidate. It is difficult to win for the JD(S) even if the BJP gives the second preference votes, without the support of Independents or Congress.

Of the four RS seats, the Congress can easily win two. Former Union ministers Jairam Ramesh and Oscar Fernandes are its first and second candidates. The Congress has a total of 123 MLAs on its side. A candidate needs about 45 votes to win. The BJP, which has 44 MLAs, can win one seat – Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Congress, which will be left with about 33 surplus votes, is confident of ensuring victory of its third candidate– K C Ramamurthy – with the help of independents, smaller parties and JD(S) rebels.

The Congress believes that its second preference votes will ensure a smooth sail for Ramamurthy.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said the BJP should help the JD(S) win the second Council seat as an act of reciprocation.

“We had helped the BJP win a Council seat in 2014 (D U Mallikarjun). I hope the BJP will reciprocate. We have already announced a tie-up with the BJP in the BBMP Council,” he said. Kumaraswamy said the party was waiting for the response of state BJP chief B?S?Yeddyurappa.