Cong-BJP fight over third RS seat in MP

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh is about to witness one of its most interesting Rajya Sabha contests on Saturday as ruling BJP and Congress clash over the third seat to Upper House from the state. With 164 MLAs to vote, BJP is set to send two of its declared candidates, Anil Madhav Dave and MJ Akbar, to the Rajya Sabha. But the tooth-and-nail fight is over the contest between Congress candidate Vivek Krishna Tankha and independent Vinod Gothia, supported by the BJP.
Congress needs one vote from outside to send Tankha to RS and BJP requires ten for its state general secretary Vinod Gothia.
Even though BSP supremo Mayawati extended support and issued a whip to her four party MLAs to vote for Congress candidate, yet till Wednesday, it looked like ruling BJP was still the heavyweight in the ring. But Thursday changed equations as Congress won two appeals in High Court and BJP lost one MLA in a road accident. Congress leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare who is critically ill and undergoing treatment at the Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai can now vote by postal ballot.
High Court ordered Election Commission to issue postal ballot for Katare so he can vote for his party candidate. This was Thursday’s order which was challenged by Vinod Gothia but High Court dismissed the independent candidate’s plea on Friday morning. Two EC officials were sent by flight at 5 pm on Friday with the postal ballot, they reached Mumbai an-hour-and-half later. Congress MLA from Badwani and accused in a rape case Ramesh Patel has also been given bail so he can vote for his party candidate.
A party requires 58 MLAs to send a candidate to the Upper House. BJP was counting 166 legislators till Supreme Court declined permission to party MLA Rajendra Meshram from Devsar seat to cast a vote in the RS polls. High Court had earlier disqualified his election on grounds that he used unfair means to win the poll. At night, BJP was shaken by a bolt from the blue as news of the sudden death of Rajendra Dadu in a road accident reached the party office here. BJP which had 50 MLAs to support Gothia, had only 48 left.
It would be nothing short of a miracle and great strategy if the party can still manage to win the third seat against the Congress.