Uttar Pradesh: In Congress’ sole bid for RS berth, a ‘godman’ emerges as frontrunner

Before Congress nominated him that year, Krishnam had floated a party, Hindustan United Movement, with support from Bareilly-based cleric Tauqir Raza.

Acharya Pramod Krishnam

Congress has set its eyes on support from Mayawati-led BSP and Ajit Jogi’s RLD to be able to send at least one legislator to the Rajya Sabha, whose 11 members from UP will finish term on July 11.

The party, helped by its strength of 29 MLAs, will need votes of eight more legislators to book itself a berth in the Upper House. And, significantly, self-styled godman Acharya Pramod Krishnam has emerged as the frontrunner. Krishnam, who was Congress’s Sambhal candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, shot to fame last year when he equated Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Indian Mujahideen and blamed him for the “growing intolerance” in the country. Before Congress nominated him that year, Krishnam had floated a party, Hindustan United Movement, with support from Bareilly-based cleric Tauqir Raza.

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A native of Moradabad, Krishnam’s complaint to the president had led CBI to register cases against Yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna. Last year, a hindu religious organisation headed by him had conferred “Gau Raksha Samman” to Samajwadi Party minister Azam Khan in Moradabad. Khan had reciprocated the gesture by inaugurating “Kalki Mahotsava” organised by Krishnam’s Kalki foundation.

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While not many in the Congress have staked claim over the sole Rajya Sabha seat, which is being vacated by Gandhi family’s friend Satish Sharma, Krishnam, speaking to The Indian Express over phone from Gujarat, said, “My well wishers in Congress have told me that my name is being seriously considered. While nothing has been communicated to me by the party high command, one can ask why is it that only the BJP is seen as the party with claims over saints and seers. They create such perception merely to divide the society.”

If Congress formally announces his name as the nominee, the chances of Krishnam, who is considered close to party senior Digvijaya Singh, will depend on support from RLD’s 8 MLAs and the remaining votes from the BSP’s strength of 80. Mayawati’s party, whose six members are finishing tenure in July, can nominate two members, leaving it with 6 MLAs and the option to help out Congress, like it did in Uttarakhand.

The ruling Samajwadi Party (227 MLAs), on the other hand, has already declared seven names, one more than its capacity to get six members elected. This means that even SP will be on the lookout for supporters among Independents and other smaller parties to help book seat for its seventh member.

Sources say that Congress might consider returning the favour to BSP as elections for 13 Legislative Council seats are going to take place simultaneously on June 11.

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As against the Rajya Sabha, Congress would be able to send one candidate to the Council without any support. While BSP can send three and BJP one, SP once again will have the upper hand with possible candidacy for seven of its leaders.

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Uttar Pradesh politics