How the numbers stack up for four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka with BJP-JDS combine

“The Congress is keen on renominating incumbent member Syed Nasser Hussain, who enjoys the confidence of AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge. The party is likely to nominate fresh faces for the remaining two seats,” Congress party sources told South First.

Meanwhile, the BJP is yet to have clarity over its possible candidate. Speculations are rife that Chandrashekar may be retained as the candidate, if the party doesn’t intend to field him in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“Senior Lingayat leader and former minister V Somanna is also lobbying for the Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka,” sources claimed.

It may be noted that the party needs to secure 45 votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat.

Also Read: Election Commission announces elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats on 27 February

Congress keen on renominating Hussain

Among the 12 Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka, the tenure of four members will end on 2 April 2024.

Besides AICC national spokesperson Hussain, the terms of Congress members GC Chandrashekar, who hails from the Vokkaliga community, and Dalit poet Dr Lankappa Hanumanthaiah (SC-left), too, will end in April.

Since Congress has sufficient numbers to retain its three Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka, it is keen on renominating Hussain.

However, it may field new faces to the remaining two seats based on the caste equations — one likely an OBC representative and another an SC, party sources claimed.

The Congress has 135 MLAs in the state Assembly while the BJP has 66 and JD(S), 19 members. The Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha (SKP) have one MLA each, while two are Independents.

Each candidate has to get at least 45 votes to win the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka. With its current strength in the House and the support of SKP’s Darshan Puttannaiah and Independent MLA Latha Mallikarjun, the Congress is likely to retain its three seats.

“The preparations for the Rajya Sabha elections are yet to kick-start officially. The last date of nomination is 15 February 2024. The party has ample time to finalise the candidates,” a senior leader told South First requesting anonymity.

“The high command is keen on renominating Syed Nasser Hussain considering his proximity to party chief Kharge. However, it is highly doubtful about the renomination of the other two members,” he further said.

“In the previous election, one seat each was given to Muslim, Vokkaliga, and SC (left). In the upcoming Rajya Sabha election, the party is considering nominating one from OBC and another from SC, either right or left,” the party office bearer claimed that the Congress will consider caste equations while finalising the nominees.

Stating that there are ample opportunities ahead, he said, “Even if the incumbent Rajya Sabha members are not renominated, there are ample constitutional positions left to accommodate them in the coming days.”

“The elections are coming up for the seven legislative council seats, three are yet to be nominated and with Jagadish Shettar resigning (and rejoining the BJP),” he said.

“There is no question of dissent in the party over Rajya Sabha elections. The party’s high command will honour the deserving leaders. The high command is likely to give more clarity in Rajya Sabha nominees in a day or two,” he added.

He also said that several senior party leaders are lobbying for Rajya Sabha seats.

“Ever since the dates for the Rajya Sabha elections were announced, the lobbying has intensified. There are also hints that the party is also thinking about giving one seat to a central leader instead of nominating a local leader,” he added.

Also Read: YSRCP eyes all three Rajya Sabha seats in Andhra

BJP’s Karnataka unit points at high command

Considering the BJP’s strength in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the party could elect only one member to the Rajya Sabha.

Though the BJP has an alliance with the JD(S), the coalition won’t help the saffron party put up a fight in more than one seat.

“The high command will announce the nominee for the Rajya Sabha election. We can retain one seat, considering the party’s strength in the state assembly. The central leadership will take the right decision,” BJP state general secretary Preetam Gowda told South First.

“The state party unit will not have anything to say in this. The party’s high command, considering the opinion of senior leaders from the state, will announce the nominee directly. There will be no official meetings. As the numbers suggest that we will be able to retain only one seat despite having the JD(S) support,” another leader said.

“Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar is also keen on contesting the Lok Sabha elections. He wants to contest from the Bangalore Central seat, which is currently represented by PC Mohan,” party sources said.

It may also be noted that senior Lingayat leader and former minister V Somanna met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party national president JP Nadda in Delhi on 13 January, demanding a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka.

“I met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and held talks for 30 minutes. I have demanded a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka and the responsibility of three parliamentary constituencies,” he told South First after his Delhi visit.

Also Read: BJP leader V Somanna asks Amit Shah, JP Nadda for Rajya Sabha seat

How votes are calculated?

“The quota of votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat will be fixed based on the number of valid votes divided by the number of seats to be filled, plus one,” a senior official said.

“The quotient will be added again with one and the fractions are ignored. As per the formula, a political party needs 45 votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat,” he explained.

Detailing the poll procedure, Legislative Assembly secretary MK Vishalakshi told South First said a candidate has to get 45 votes to win the poll. “The candidate will be elected based on the preferential votes.”

“Preferential votes come into play if there are more than four contestants,” she added.