Mangalore : Dayanand Pai Strong Contender for Karnataka RS Seat

by Political Correspondent - Daijiworld Media Network
 
Mangalore, May 11: With the Election Commission issuing the notification schedule for holding the polls for the by-elections for the four Rajya Sabha seats from the state  for June 17, 2010, intense lobbying is on in the ruling BJP.  With the Hartalu Halappa episode becoming a liability to the ruling BJP giving a major boost to the opposition camp close to the heels of the ongoing Panchayat elections, the forthcoming elections to the two RS seats the BJP is expected to win hands down, the party is in a quandary on deciding consensus candidate for the two seats as there are a least a couple of wannabe contestants for these seats.  Selecting two candidates will not be  as simple as it looks.  

The elections to the four seats in the Upper House of Parliament has been necessitated following the retirement of four  Rajya Sabha members from the state  - Oscar Fernandes and B K Hariprasad (both from Congress and M Vankaiah Naidu from BJP and MNM Ramaswamy from JDS, who are retiring on June 30, 2010. 

Dayananda Pai


Dhanajay Kumar and Vankaiah Naidu

The elections are scheduled for June 17 and the last date for nominations is June 7. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is June 10, 2010.  The ongoing crucial Zilla Panchayat elections or the Halappa episode has not dampened the spirits of the Rajya Sabha aspirants for the forthcoming by-elections as candidates are using all means to reach out to the top party brass to impress upon them about their candidature from the party.  Candidates like senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu who is from Andhra, former minister Dhananjaya Kumar, businessman Dayananda Pai, legal advisor to Chief Minister Diwakar, RSS leader Vaman Murthy, women aspirants like former MLA Pramila Nesargi, BJP worker Sarojini Muthanna and dummy candidates of BJP leader Ananth Kumar are said to be some of the strong contenders for the two seats which the party is sure to win.  

Former BJP President and MP Sadananda Gowda, when contacted said that the party is yet to decide on the candidature.  He further added that the party is busy with the ongoing Zilla Panchayat elections and the party’s state leadership will be able to meet only after 12th of this month to deliberate on the issue of candidature for the Rajya Sabha seats.  

The members of the state assembly are the voters in this by-elections and considering the present composition of the state assembly the ruling BJP with 115 members is sitting comfortably. The party is sure to win two seats and the main opposition Congress is expected to bag one seat based on its strength of 74 seats in the assembly.  The JD (S) cannot win a seat on its own but is expected to play a deciding role in the election of the 4th candidate either by joining hands with the Congress or by extending support to winnable independent candidates.  JD (S) supremo H.D Deve Gowda, has made his intentions clear and said he would seek the support of the Congress for his party candidate in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections. Each candidate is expected to poll a minimum of 45 votes each to win the election. 

The truth, however, is that Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu, another senior leader and former Union Minister V Dhananjay Kumar and businessman Dayananda Pai are the three major candidates vying for the BJPs seats along with other aspiring candidates, who too are using every possible trick up their sleeves to impress upon the party leadership. 

Businessman Dayananda Pai talking to daijiworld confirmed his candidature for the Rajya Sabha by-elections though initially he said he was oblivious of his name being floated as a probable candidate.  “I am a serious contender for the party’s nomination and my chances of securing a nomination are bright.  I am a successful businessman and fulfill the criterion to be nominated.  I am sincere and committed to do good service to the society as a member of parliament”, he stated. 

Venkaiah Naidu has been elected to the Rajya Sabha twice and this time around there are rumors agog  saying a section of the state BJP leadership is  opposing his candidature from the state as it deprives an opportunity for party aspirants from the state to get elected to the upper house.  Sources within the BJP who did not want to be quoted confirmed this.  The opposition to Naidu’s candidature stems from the fact that BJP’s hold in Naidu’s home state Andhra Pradesh has declined to an abysmal low and section of the state BJP leadership feels it is not worth sacrificing another local for the third time for Venkaiah Naidu. 

When contacted former minister and ex-MP from Mangalroe V Dhananjaya Kumar expressed hope that the party would decide in his favour this time around at least.  In a telephonic conversation with daijiworld Dhananjaya Kumar said “in 2008 itself the central leadership wanted me to contest Rajya Sabha seats.  But the party was forced to accommodate Rama Jois and Prabhakar Kore who had just joined the party then.  But this time I am sure to be nominated as the candidate”, he asserted.    

However, party sources say that the incommodious Aanth Kumar is said to be opposed to Dhanajy Kumar’s candidature and might float the names of his own confidents to counter his candidature.  Considering that it is the state leadership which has a major say and knowing that there is no love lost between Ananth and Yeddyurappa Ananth Kumar may not succeed in his machinations. At the same time the state leadership may not be able to effectively oppose the central leadership when it comes to Venkaiah Naidu’s candidature.  

That makes the race for the Rajya Sabha an intriguing and exciting one with all the three candidates using their maneuvering skills, influence and high level contacts to win the race.  There is enough time to carry on the intense lobbying for all the three candidates.  Both Venkaiah Naidu and Dhananjaya Kumar hold important positions within the party to carry on lobbying.  But Dayananda Pai will definitely use his clout with the state and central leaders and impress upon them about his candidature.  

The BJP state leadership already grappling under a series of troubles has a major challenge in resolving the nomination issue without disappointing any of the contenders. A wait and watch approach will be the only way out to see how the party is going to handle this situation.