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Last date to file nominations for Rajya Sabha polls ends; over to March 23

As per the current strength in the Assembly, two candidates of the Congress and one from the BJP can get elected comfortably

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The last minute huddle for 58 Rajya Sabha (RS) nominations from 16 states brought out infighting within the parties that could make or mar the fate of some wannabe candidates because of cross-voting. The last date to file nominations ended on Monday.

In Gujarat, the Congress state general secretary P K Valera staked claim as an Independent prompting the BJP to field former MLA Kiritsinh Rana as the third candidate to make things difficult for the Congress.

Seven candidates, including Valera and Rana, have filed nominations for four seats falling vacant from the state. Valera filed his nomination papers apparently with the support of some Congress MLAs, after two official candidates Amiben Yagnik and tribal leader Naran Rathwa filed their forms. Union ministers Parshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandavia are the BJP nominees.

In Karnataka, three ruling Congress candidates and one each from BJP and JDS filed their nominations for four Rajya Sabha seats. The Congress has fielded Dr L Hanumanthaiah, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain and GC Chandrasekhar. BJP nominated businessman Rajeev Chandrashekar, who was an Independent Rajya Sabha member and joined the party on Monday. BM Farooq filed nomination as a JDS candidate.

As per the current strength in the Assembly, two candidates of the Congress and one from the BJP can get elected comfortably. There seems to be a fight between Congress's third candidate and Farooq. However, arithmetic favours the Congress that apparently has support from seven rebel JDS MLAs, who are expected to join the party after the Rajya Sabha polls.

In Rajasthan, the BJP got a shot in the arm, with tribal leader and MLA Kirori Lal Meena coming back to the party along with with two National People's Party (NPP) MLAs and filing nomination for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections.

Sitting Rajya Sabha MP Bhupendra Yadav, Meena and veteran party leader Madan Lal Saini also filed nominations as BJP candidates.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane and senior journalist Kumar Ketkar were among the four candidates who filed their nominations on Monday for six Rajya Sabha seats. Last minute filing of nominations by Maharashtra State Commission for Women chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar of behalf of the BJP would make the election interesting as the number of candidates is seven for six seats.

The JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav faction's Kerala unit president M P Veerendra Kumar filed his nomination as an Independent backed by the ruling CPM-led LDF. Given the strength of the LDF in the Assembly, Kumar's victory is certain. Kerala PCC general secretary and former legislator Babu Prasad also filed his nomination as candidate of the Congress-led UDF Opposition.

Senior BJP leaders Thawar Chand Gehlot, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ajay Pratap Singh and Kailash Soni along with Congress's Rajmani Patel filed their nominations from Madhya Pradesh. While the BJP is poised to win its all four seats, the Congress is expected to wrest one seat.

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