Ruling allies Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress have announced a candidate each. INDIA bloc has 56 MLAs – the number needed to elect the two candidates.
On the other hand, the Opposition NDA has 24 MLAs, four short of the magic number. However, BJP is determined to field a candidate to make it a last-minute finishing match.
Adding to the twist on Friday evening, three potential candidates purchased nomination forms – BJP spokesman Gaurav Vallabh, industrialist Parimal Nathwani and former YSR Congress leader Vijay Sai Reddy.
BJP is yet to decide on its candidate. Sources in the party told ET that earlier allies were told to support Vallabh. However, it seemed that there was a change of plan and Nathwani is most likely to file the nomination as an independent with NDA support. A candidate needs signatures of at least 10 MLAs to file his nomination paper.
Sources told ET that Vallabh has left for New Delhi. ET tried to reach out to Vijay Sai Reddy, but received no response as of press time.
The entry of a third candidate is likely to make it a tough battle for Congress’ Pranav Jha. JMM was already unhappy that Congress announced a candidate without consultation. JMM is confident of getting its candidate Baijnath Ram elected with 28 out of 34 votes. But it remains non-committal to Congress regarding the remaining six votes.Nathwani’s meeting with Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, indicating that he might get support from the remaining six JMM MLAs, has added an additional turn.
In the past, Nathwani has represented the state twice and received support from JMM.
The Congress leadership has dispatched former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Ajay Sharma as party observers for the elections. The leaders met Soren on Sunday afternoon. “He is not only the CM but also the leader of our alliance in the state. A meeting of all 56 MLAs has been called at the CM’s residence. We are going to win the two seats,” Baghel told media persons in Ranchi after the meeting.
