Lucknow, October 6 (Daily Kiran) : In Lucknow, a recent post by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on social media has stirred political speculation ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections for ten seats in Uttar Pradesh. On Tuesday, Yadav shared a message on the platform X, stating, “Now our focus is not on three, but on four hundred three.” This statement has been interpreted as a strategic shift in light of both the Rajya Sabha elections and the forthcoming assembly elections.
Analysts suggest that Yadav’s comment implies that the SP may not nominate a candidate for the third Rajya Sabha seat. The party has already put forth two candidates, Dhanraj Lakhwani and Professor Ram Gopal Yadav. Consequently, the discussions surrounding a potential third candidate have largely been put to rest by Yadav’s post.
Political observers note that by referencing the assembly’s 403 seats instead of the Rajya Sabha’s three, Yadav is signaling the party’s priorities. This move is seen as part of the SP’s strategy to gear up for the assembly elections and mobilize its organization for the electoral battle ahead. However, Yadav’s post drew immediate criticism from Om Prakash Rajbhar, president of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and a minister in the state government.
Rajbhar responded on X, quipping, “Friend Akhilesh, it’s done! Sometimes, you do show some wisdom, like today. As for the 403, I would say dreaming is not a bad thing.”
To win one of the ten Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, a candidate needs 37 first-preference votes. The effective strength of the current assembly is considered to be 396. The SP, along with potential support from Congress, has enough votes for two seats. However, the real challenge lies in securing a third seat, which requires 111 first-preference votes.
After accounting for the 74 votes needed for the two candidates, the SP has limited additional votes left. Therefore, the party would need the backing of about 12 extra legislators to secure a third seat, making the situation complicated from the outset.
Moreover, concerns arise from some of the SP’s legislators who previously voted in favor of the BJP in past Rajya Sabha elections. On the other hand, the BJP boasts 255 legislators, along with support from its allies, including 13 from the Apna Dal (Sonelal), nine from the Rashtriya Lok Dal, and six from the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, totaling around 293 supporters. To win eight seats, the BJP will need 296 votes, indicating they may also require additional backing for their eighth seat.
Leave a Comment