BJP likely to send these eight candidates to RS sans voting!

Anurag Shukla

Lucknow: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to field eight candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on March 23 for 10 RS members from Uttar Pradesh.

All eight BJP candidates likely to grab the Rajya Sabha seat unopposed if Congress opts not to send its candidate for the RS polls. In such case, there would be no need for the Rajya Sabha polls as SP and BSP have already fielded one candidate each.

Arun Jaitley, Dr. Ashok Vajpayee and Sakaldeep Rajbhar have been already finalised for the Rajya Sabha from BJP. Other probable names include - Arun Singh, Dr. Anil Jain, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Kanta Kardam Jatav, GVL Narsimharao and P Murlidhar Rao.

BJP sources suggest that RSS leader from Telangana/Andhra Pradesh, Murlidhar Rao might grab the Rajya Sabha seat from other state if not from Uttar Pradesh.

With 311 members (325 with allies) in the Assembly, the BJP and allies will be a clear winner on eight seats, seven more than the last time.

The SP has named Jaya Bachchan as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, while BSP has fielded Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

A candidate will require a minimum of 37 first preference votes to win.