Rajya Sabha polls Monday

The Rajya Sabha polls for the three seats which has fallen vacant in the state will be held on Monday. The polls is the first after the victory for the UDF in the Neyyatinkara bypoll.

There are four contestants, two each representing the UDF and the LDF, for  the poll.

As per the strength of MLAs aligned with it (73 including Speaker), the UDF can send two MPs to the Upper House from the state. Senior leader and many-time former MP P J Kurian (Congress) is seeking another term and if elected is also tipped for the post of deputy chairmanship of Rajya Sabha. The second seat, which has been allotted to the Kerala Congress, with the party fielding  Joy Abraham, party state general secretary and ex-MLA, to the seat.

The CPM has fielded C P Narayanan, editor of Chinta magazine, as one of the LDF candidates. For the second seat, CPI’s C N Chandran is testing the waters, amid hopes of the possibility of cross-voting from the UDF side.

Thirty-six first votes are required for a RS nominee getting elected in accordance with the total strength of the Assembly. Polling is slated from 9 am to 4 pm on Monday. Results will be announced on the same day.

Chief Electoral Officer Nalini Netto will be the observer to the polls.