Lobbying begins for Rajya Sabha, Maya may be nominee
Even before the dust settles down on the just concluded Assembly elections, hectic lobbying has begun in all parties for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha for 10 seats, nominations for which begin from Monday.
The BSP, which has five members retiring this month, will now be able to send only two members to the Rajya Sabha after its reduced strength in the state Assembly.
According to party sources, Ms Mayawati is all set to shift to national politics and may go to the Rajya Sabha herself. At present, she is a member of the UP Legislative Council and her term is up to July 2016.
Another likely candidate for the Rajya Sabha on a BSP ticket is former UP Cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh, who remains one of Ms Mayawati’s most trusted aides in UP.
The SP, which won with a thumping majority of 224 members, will now be in a position to send six members to the Rajya Sabha.
Names doing the rounds in party circles include Mr Naresh Agarwal, whose term is expiring this month. Mr Shahid Siddiqui, Ms Anuradha Choudhury, Mr Ambica Choudhury and Mr Shyama Charan Gupta are also said to be in the race for the Upper House.
The final decision on the candidates will be taken after the formation of the government in UP.
The BJP, with just 47 members of the 16th Vidhan Sabha, is in a position to send just one member to the Rajya Sabha and the likely nominee is Mr Vinay Katiyar whose term expires later this month.
The Congress and the RLD, with a collective tally of 37 members, will be able to send just one member to the Rajya Sabha. Congress sources said that their party would opt for the Rajya Sabha while the RLD would be given a seat in the Vidhan Parishad for which elections will be held next month. Reeling under the impact of its poor performance in UP, the Congress is likely to pick up a candidate for the Rajya Sabha from outside Uttar Pradesh and the decision will be taken by the party high command soon.
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