In Preeti Mahapatra’s Rajya Sabha candidature, litmus test for other party MLAs eyeing 2017 BJP ticket

Read | Preeti Mahapatra nomination in UP for Rajya Sabha: a spoiler for Congress’ Sibal?

While supporting Mahapatra in the election, the BJP top brass are also “checking the loyalty” of those legislators of other political parties who reportedly are seeking party ticket for the 2017 Assembly polls.

As nomination papers of all 12 Rajya Sabha candidates were found valid by the election officials Wednesday, the MLAs will take part in voting on June 11 provided any candidate does not withdraw the nomination by June 3.

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The BJP leaders had recently claimed that MLAs from parties including SP, BSP and Congress were in touch with the top leaders as they want to contest next Assembly election under “lotus” symbol.

“In voting process for RS membership, the MLAs will have to show their ballot on the demand of polling agent of the political parties after writing their priority for the candidates. If these MLAs do not vote in favour of BJP-supported candidate, they will not be considered for the party (ticket),” said a senior BJP leader.

He also added that such MLAs cannot approach the top brass for the party ticket if Preeti looses the election.

“If they vote for both the BJP Rajya Sabha nominees, they will also (have to) vote for our candidates for Legislative Council. Voting for MLC polls is done with secret ballot,” said the party leader. While Preeti is short of 23 votes, BJP’s second candidate for MLC polls require votes of 12 more MLAs to win.

The BJP leader cited the names of Awasthi, Yadav and NCP MLA Fateh Bahadur who have signed as proposers on Preeti’s nomination papers. Awasthi is BSP MLA from Mohammadi and his son Rajiv had joined BJP in September 2014. Fateh Bahadur’s wife Sadhna Singh and son Kunwar Vishwen Singh too had joined BJP in February, 2015.

When contacted, Awasthi said, “A number of MLAs in all the political parties, including SP, BSP and Congress, are in touch with Preeti. They will follow the voice of their conscience and will vote in her favour. Following the same voice, I have supported her candidature,” Awasthi claimed.

Fateh Bahadur said that he was supporting Preeti, but he could not comment on decision of other MLAs.

Yadav, meanwhile, claimed that he has no plans to join BJP, but was supporting Preeti because he wants to defeat the SP nominee. He was expelled from SP recently.