BJP fields MA Naqvi for one seat, options still open for the other

RANCHI: Central BJP has announced Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi as candidate for one of the seats of Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand whereas options for the second seat have kept open. Name of Navqvi, incumbent minister of state for parliamentary affairs was announced by the general secretary of BJP's central election committee, JP Nadda from Delhi on Sunday. Two seats of the upper house are falling vacant as term of Congress MP Dheeraj Sahu and BJP's interim member MJ Akbar expires June end.For June 11 election to both these seats, Tuesday is the last date of filing nominations. Naqvi is expected to file his nomination on Monday.
BJP state president Tala Marandi said that the even as one name has been announced party is still looking for a suitable candidate for the second seat. "With 47 members in the NDA fold we are sure of securing win over one seat but for the second seat we need support of likeminded people from other political parties," he said admitting that this was one of the reasons party was looking for a consensus candidate who can fetch support of MLAs from other parties as well. "If we are able to choose a candidate who is ready to work for the state, people across political affiliations can support him or her," he said.
Asked if BJP is ready to hold talks with the JMM to seek support for BJP candidate or go ahead offering support to its candidate, Marandi said that options have been kept open. "Chintan manthan jaari hai' ( Brainstorming is going on) but we are going to hold talks with the likeminded people first," he said.
Sources in the BJP said that if the party fails to garner support of JMM, the largest opposition in state with 19 MLAs, it may offer support to its candidate in return of political support in the Upper House. For BJP every seat and support in the Upper House counts where the party is still in minority.
In the 81 member each candidate requires at least 28 first preference votes to secure the seat. Having fielded Naqvi on one seat, victory on which is certain for the BJP, the party is eying support of nine more MLAs for securing victory on the second seat. JMM on the other hand with 19 MLAs also requires support of nine more MLAs to ensure win for its candidate. JMM can arrange this support from BJP alone or it has to seek support of Congress's six and JVM-P's two MLAs and still remain short of one more vote.