BackPolitical parties in talks to put up mutually acceptable candidates
Political hobnobbing ahead of the 7 Feb elections leads to some alliances being finalized for the general election
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New Delhi: Political parties are in talks to put up mutually acceptable candidates for election to 55 Rajya Sabha seats due by 7 February, in what could be a prelude to political alignments at the Lok Sabha elections later in the year.
However, the post-Lok Sabha elections scenario could look different, as parties will try and forge new alliances with the aim of forming the next Union government rather than winning seats, said political analysts.
The ruling Congress and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are yet to come out with their final lists of candidates for the 55 vacant seats in the Upper House of Parliament.
But the Congress and its vehement critic, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), have already joined hands in West Bengal in support of independent candidate and Congress nominee, academician Hossainnur Rahman.
The CPM, meanwhile, has enlisted the support of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu.
Political hobnobbing ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections has led to some alliances being finalized for the forthcoming general election too.
The BJP, for instance, has decided to go into a pre-poll alliance for the Lok Sabha elections with Vaiko-led Marumalrchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The Lok Sabha elections are due by May.
And speculation over a possible political understanding between the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) mounted after Congress leader and general secretary in charge of Bihar, Digvijay Singh, met LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday.
However, Congress spokesperson Mukul Wasnik refused to give details of alliances in the making, saying, “As far as alliances are concerned, a committee headed by (defence minister A.K.) Antony is looking into it. Alliances are solely in the domain of the Antony panel."
Thiruvananthapuram-based political commentator K. Gopalakrishnan said the understanding reached for the Rajya Sabha elections could give an indication of the possible alignment before the Lok Sabha polls.
“However, it is too early. The final shape of alliances will emerge on the basis of ground realities prevailing then. The alliances will be formed on the basis of the factors such as caste, communities, ideology as well as on personalities," he said. Gopalakrishnan added: “While pre-poll alliances will be eyeing the number of seats and votes, the post-election political manifestations may be totally different and will only be in pursuit of power."
In Maharashtra, the BJP is likely to give up one of its seats to keep its alliance with the Shiv Sena and the Republican Party of India-Athawale intact. The Shiv Sena wanted the BJP to back Ramdas Athawale as its Rajya Sabha candidate instead of re-sending senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar to the Upper House.
In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK head and chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, who had backed the Communist Party of India’s D. Raja at the last Rajya Sabha elections, has now agreed to support the CPM’s T.K. Rangarajan. The state’s opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which snapped ties with the Congress last year, is in informal talks with Vijayakant-led Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam for re-electing its leader Trichy N. Siva to the Rajya Sabha.
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