As Manmohan retires from RS, his political fate hangs in balance
New Delhi: Immediately after the formation of newly elected government at the centre, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohon Singh will retire from Rajya Sabha along with another Congress member Santiuse Kujur from the state of Assam.
But the question of re-nomination for both them is almost ruled out as the Congress party does not have enough strength to reelect them. Both Dr Singh and Kujur will retire on 16th June of this year. Next, in the month of July, another six members will also retire from the house of elders. All of them were elected from Tamil Nadu.
The Congress party does not have enough legislatures in Tamil Nadu to get elected anyone. In this circumstance, the political fate of former Prime Minister is hanging in the balance, sources said.
Immediately, there will not be any vacancy from other states. In this circumstance, consecutive five-time elected Dr Singh will be out of the Parliament. It's not clear whether Dr Singh will prefer to keep himself away from the active role as a parliamentarian.
During the course of seat negotiations in Bihar, apparently, BJP had promised to accommodate Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan in Rajya Sabha from Assam. Paswan himself announced this decision in a press conference in Delhi recently. And for that reason, he opted out from contesting in the Lok Sabha poll. But Paswan's nomination from Asaam appears doubtful as state BJP raised a red flag to accommodate anyone outside the state. Sources close to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonwal did confirm that BJP president Amit Shah had a discussion with a local party for ensuing RS election. But Paswan's name was never figured in the discussion. BJP does not want to discuss this issue before the Lok Sabha poll as it might affect ongoing election process, especially in Bihar where ruling NDA has a lot of stakes.
Presently in Assam legislative assembly BJP has a strength of 61 members and they have an alliance with AGP which has 14 MLAs and Bodoland People's Front with 14 MLAs. Congress has only 25 MLAs and they form an understanding with All India Democratic Front, a party of minorities, which has 13 MLAs. By simple arithmetic BJP can wrests both the seats from Congress easily. BJP has already given an assurance to AGP to accommodate one of their members in Rajya Sabha. And second seat from their own. Earlier, once Congress party accommodated Sanjay Sing of UP in Assam which created a lot of dissension within the party. BJP does not want to repeat that exercise. These days sentiments against "outsiders" are running high. In this circumstance, nomination for Paswan will face a lot of opposition in the state.
