Parties take resort halt for Upper House

Two days ahead of the polls for four Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan,the state BJP on Tuesday began spiriting away its MLAs...

Two days ahead of the polls for four Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan,the state BJP on Tuesday began spiriting away its MLAs to a resort on the outskirts of Jaipur to stall horse trading. By the evening,70 of the 79 BJP MLAs were present in the resort along with a JDU MLA supporting them.

BJP general secretary Vasundhara Raje said the MLAs had gathered for a training session before the vote. Though it looks like the two BJP candidates will win,we wanted to give the MLAs training to educate them about the voting process, she said,adding that the MLAs would remain in the resort until polling on June 17.

With the support of 80 MLAs in the Assembly,the BJP expects to win two RS seats its priority candidate V P Singh and veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani. Though Jethmalanis victory seemed doubtful,with the BJP needing a total of 82 votes to secure seats for both,the CPM decision to boycott the elections has eased tensions.

With the CPM boycotting,each candidate needs 40 votes to secure a victory easy for both the Congress and BJP with disciplined voting.

PTI adds from Bhubaneswar that ahead of the RS polls,the ruling BJD has lodged its MLAs at a posh hotel in Puri. BJD MLA Sanjay Dasburma admitted that they had been camping there for two days. With the Congress backing Independent candidate Tara Ranjan Patnaik,the BJD doesnt want to expose its MLAs to poaching.

Mallya likely to make it with BJP support

Bangalore: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya appears set for a second stint in the Rajya Sabha after garnering the ruling BJPs support for the June 17 biennial elections from Karnataka. Sources said the BJP,with around 30 surplus votes,could ensure victory for Mallya who is contesting as an Independent with the support of JDS.PTI