Parties burning mid-night oil for victory of their candidates

Lucknow: Political parties as well as the their candidates for the Rajya Sabha and U P legislative council have burnt mid-night oil over two issues, cross-voting and preferential voting. Of the two, main worry is over possibility of the former in view of a business woman. Preeti Mahapatra, joining the fray for the Rajya Sabha seats from this state. Contesting as an independent , she has been backed by the Bhartiya Janata Party and some smaller groups.

Neither of the two issues can be taken lightly. If there is cross-voting all calculations of contesting parties can go wrong. Mistakes in preferential voting can upset their apple-carts too. There is a formula for counting preferential votes which is quite complex. Any discrepancy can cost the party dearly.

Normally, each party members is asked to vote for a particular candidate and given the order of preferences for his voting. If he commits a mistake the calculation will go wrong and the party may have to suffer. The second and third preferences of a voter is crucial in this regard. Any candidate for the Rajya Sabha who gets 34 first preference votes will be elected in the first place.

Seats and value of votes:

Number of Rajya Sabha seats which will vacant—11

Value of votes an assembly member -- 100

Voting formula:

Total number of voters x 100

Total number of seats +1+1

(403 x 100 / 11+1)+1

(40300/ 12) +1

3358+1= 3359

Thus, any candidate getting 3359 votes ( or 34 member support) will be declared elected.

Other points to be noted:

• Only the pen given by the returning officer will be used
• Each member has to give the order of preferences, like 1,2, or 3
• Member will write only his name and nothing else.