Misa replaces Rabri as second RJD candidate for RS polls

Patna:  RJD president Lalu Prasad on Friday succumbed to the family pressure and replaced his wife and former CM Rabri Devi with daughter Misa Bharti as the party’s nominee for Rajya Sabha elections. Rabri would continue to function as leader of RJD legislature party in Bihar vidhan parishad.

Misa had been putting pressure on the family to accommodate her in Bihar cabinet when her two brothers were inducted into Nitish Kumar led cabinet. She had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Pataliutra. Noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who is defending  Lalu in the fodder scam case in CBI court, will be another RJD nominee for the RS polls though his candidature has been opposed by Dr Ezaj Aali, a former MP who is also a claimant.

With the RJD deciding to field  three candidates for the Vidhan Parishad elections, the party will require 12  extra votes . JD(U) can transfer its nine surplus votes to the third RJD candidate but the party will still need support of independents and CPI(ML) MLAs to ensure victory of its third nominee.

The Grand Alliance comprising  Congress, JD(U) and RJD has 179 memebrs in 243 assembly.The RJD and JD(U) can successfully send two candidates each to the Rajya Sabha but for the six seats in Council(one by Congress, two by JD(U) and three by RJD), the alliance would require 7 extra votes. It is banking on the support of three CPI(ML) and four independent candidates.The alliance has three suspended MLAs-Gopal mandal,Rajvallabh Yadav and Sarfaraz Alam.If they decide to boycott the poll, RJD may face problem in getting its third candidate for  council elected.

BJP ,RLSP and LJP have 58 votes and their strength can help elect only one candidate for Rajya Sabha and one in council safely,but for the second council seat,the alliance would require 4 extra votes.The NDA hopes to get support of four independents.For Rajya Sabha election,a candidate requires 41 first preference votes and for council 31 votes for getting elected. Polls are due on June 10 and June 11 for Vidhan parishad and Rajya savha elections respectively.

JD(U) has already announced names of its candidates: Sharad Yadav and RCP Sinha for Rajya Sabha and Ghulam Rasool Valiyabi and C P Sinha for council polls . The BJP is yet to announce the names of its candidates.