Rajya Sabha Seat in MP Triggers Congress Jitters

• Rajya Sabha elections for three seats in Madhya Pradesh scheduled on June 19
• Digvijaya Singh refuses another term, triggering multiple claimants in Congress
• Party fears cross-voting by MLAs could endanger its lone seat
• BJP holds strong numbers in the 230-member Assembly

GG News Bureau
Bhopal, 12th March: Political activity has intensified in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the June 19 Rajya Sabha elections, with the Congress facing internal competition and growing concerns about possible cross-voting that could jeopardise its lone seat in the Upper House.

Three Rajya Sabha seats from the state are due for election. Two of these seats are currently held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), represented by Dr. Sumer Singh Solanki and George Kurian, while the third seat belongs to the Congress, currently represented by senior leader Digvijaya Singh. However, Digvijaya Singh has already declined to seek another term, opening the field for several aspirants within the Congress.

Following his decision, multiple leaders have emerged as contenders for the party’s nomination. Among the prominent names being discussed are state Congress president Jitu Patwari, former MP Meenakshi Natarajan, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, former Union minister Arun Yadav, and senior leader Kamleshwar Patel, who is considered an influential face from the Vindhya region.

In addition, Sajjan Singh Verma and Pradeep Ahirwar, both leaders associated with the Dalit community, have also staked a claim for the seat. There have been growing demands within the party to nominate a Dalit leader to the Rajya Sabha. In this regard, Pradeep Ahirwar, the state president of the Congress Scheduled Caste Department, has written to the party leadership urging consideration of a Dalit candidate.

Despite having a seat currently in its quota, the Congress leadership is concerned about the possibility of cross-voting by its legislators. According to party sources, even if five to six MLAs vote against the party line, the outcome could tilt against the Congress candidate.

The concern stems partly from the current composition of the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, where the BJP enjoys a commanding majority with 164 MLAs. If the ruling party manages to secure support from even a few additional legislators, the electoral arithmetic could become even more favourable for it.

The Congress leadership also recalls the 2022 presidential election, when cross-voting was widely reported in Madhya Pradesh. At the time, opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha was expected to receive around 103 votes from the opposition bloc, but ultimately secured only 79 votes, suggesting that several legislators voted against the party line.

Reacting to the speculation, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar accused the BJP of attempting to weaken rival parties through political manoeuvring. He said the Congress legislators remain committed and the Rajya Sabha seat will stay with the party.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Abhilash Pandey rejected the allegations and said the BJP is confident about its organisational strength and legislative numbers.

In the Rajya Sabha election, a candidate requires roughly 58 votes to secure victory in the 230-member Assembly. With the margins relatively narrow and internal competition within the Congress still unresolved, even limited cross-voting could significantly alter the outcome.

As the date of voting approaches, the Rajya Sabha contest in Madhya Pradesh is turning into a closely watched political battle, with both parties carefully monitoring the evolving equations within the Assembly.