The Central Election Commission has announced elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats. These 37 seats also include two seats from Telangana and 5 seats from Bihar. In these two states, both the party and the opposition are busy making strategies. NDA’s victory on 4 seats in Bihar is considered certain and the opposition will field candidates for the fifth seat. At the same time, the victory of the Congress party on one seat in Telangana is considered certain but for the other seat the party does not have the support of the required MLAs. In both these states, the role of Asaduddin Owaisi, MP from Hyderabad and President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), is being considered important.
In the assembly elections held in Bihar last year, Owaisi’s party performed brilliantly and won 5 seats. The Grand Alliance had to face a crushing defeat in the elections. The condition of the opposition in Bihar is now such that even all the parties of the grand alliance combined are not able to generate the required numbers to win the elections on one Rajya Sabha seat. Congress does not have the required votes for the second seat in Telangana.
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BRS increased concern
The position of Bharatiya Janata Party in Telangana is not strong. In such a situation, the main contest seems to be between Congress and BRS. Bharat Rashtra Samiti leader K. Chandrashekhar Rao has decided to field a candidate. Earlier, victory for Congress on both the seats was considered certain but now Congress’s troubles have increased. Now Congress does not have sufficient number of MLAs.
Understand the numbers game in Telangana
To win a Rajya Sabha seat in Telangana, support of 41 MLAs is needed. Officially BRS has 37 MLAs but 10 MLAs of the party have already joined the Congress camp, the situation regarding which is not clear yet. If all 37 MLAs remain with the party, as claimed by BRS, then the party will need the support of only 4 MLAs. Congress party has 66 MLAs. Apart from this, one CPI MLA also supports Congress. BJP has 8 MLAs and Owaisi’s party has 7 MLAs.
Will the game be played in Bihar also?
NDA has a total of 202 MLAs in Bihar. With so many MLAs, NDA can win four seats but will fall short of MLAs for the fifth seat. There are a total of 35 MLAs including all the parties of the Grand Alliance. The party will need support from other parties to win even one seat, hence the party is eyeing the five MLAs of Owaisi’s party. Bahujan Samaj Party also has one MLA, who is still out of both the alliances.
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Owaisi becomes king maker?
Now everyone’s eyes are on Owaisi in Bihar and Telangana. MLAs of Owaisi’s party can play in both the states. In Bihar, if Owaisi’s party supports the Grand Alliance candidate, then the opposition may be in a position to counter the NDA. To win the seat, NDA will need the support of three MLAs while the Grand Alliance will need the support of 6 MLAs. In such a situation, Owaisi’s party is in the role of king maker. Hina Shahab, wife of late Mohammad Shahabuddin, can be the party candidate from RJD. Owaisi’s relationship with Hina is strong. In such a situation, RJD is expecting the support of Owaisi’s party.
Congress’s troubles seem to be increasing with BRS entering the electoral fray in Telangana. Congress may now need Owaisi’s support. KCR’s party also does not have the necessary MLAs. Both BJP and Owaisi’s party will not go with BRS because Congress can create a narrative against them. In such a situation, Owaisi’s party may be inclined towards Congress. Owaisi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy have friendly relations and AIMIM had supported the Congress candidate in the recent by-elections. In such a situation, now everyone’s eyes are on Owaisi.
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