In Bihar, BJP is making strong efforts to ensure the victory of its third candidate, Shivesh Kumar, despite the NDA being short of numbers. The NDA is certain to win four seats and is pushing for the fifth. Kumar requires three votes from MLAs outside NDA to secure the seat. Several rounds of meetings were held within the NDA camp from Sunday morning until late evening. “We are confident that our candidate will secure the required number of votes to win the fifth seat,” said Vijay Choudhary, senior JDU leader told ET.
Also Read: All NDA candidates in Bihar for Rajya Sabha polls will win by huge margins: JD(U)
Meetings also continued in the Opposition camp for incumbent RJD candidate AD Singh. The INDIA bloc has 35 votes, including those of RJD, Congress, CPI-ML and IIP. It needs six additional votes and is banking on the support of five AIMIM MLAs and one BSP MLA. The Opposition held a meeting with its MLAs at a hotel in Patna, where it was decided that they would stay there and proceed directly to vote on Monday. “We have the numbers. NDA is trying to break the unity of Opposition, but they have failed,” Singh told ET.
In Odisha, the Congress shifted some MLAs to Bengaluru on Thursday. On Sunday, two persons from Odisha were handed over to the police in Bengaluru for allegedly attempting to influence Odisha Congress MLAs staying there by offering Rs 5 crore each to vote in favour of BJP in the elections. BJP leader and former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik held meetings at his residence in the evening. BJP remains confident about the victory of its candidates Sujit Kumar and Manmohan Samal, while BJD is confident about the victory of its candidate Santrupt Misra. The contest between BJP and the joint Opposition of BJD, Congress and CPI-M is for the fourth seat. BJP has extended support to Dilip Ray, while Datteswar Hota is the joint Opposition candidate.
Also Read: Rajya Sabha polls: Congress MLAs offered Rs 5 crore to cross-vote, says DK Shivakumar
In Haryana, Congress shifted 31 of its 37 MLAs to Shimla a day before voting. Due to bad weather, the MLAs were later moved to Kasauli. BJP also kept its MLAs at a hotel in Chandigarh, and party sources told ET the MLAs were trained in voting process. Three candidates are in the fray for two seats. BJP is confident about the victory of Sanjay Bhatia. For the second seat, the contest is between Congress’ Karamveer Baudh and BJP-supported Satish Nandal. A candidate requires 31 votes to win. BJP has 48 MLAs and will be left with 17 after voting for Bhatia. With the support of two INLD MLAs and three independents, the total reaches 22, leaving the party still short of nine votes. Congress, with 37 MLAs, can comfortably ensure the victory of its candidate Karamveer Baudh.
Voting for the Rajya Sabha elections will take place on Monday morning and the results will be declared the same day.
