BJP's hopes to retain Mahajan's seat a non-starter

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) The BJP's desperate attempt to retain the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by its late General Secretary Pramod Mahajan have become a non-starter with Nationalist Congress Chief Sharad Pawar jettisoning the proposal to support a member of Mr Mahajan's family to fill the vacancy.

Informed BJP sources said the move by some Maharashtra leaders was straight away cold shouldered by the Congress who see this as an opportunity to increase the UPA's tally in Rajya Sabha by one more seat. Mr Pawar, though outwardly not averse to the proposal, is understood to have conveyed to the movers of the proposal that he will not do anything that would 'risk' the alliance in Maharashtra.

The Congress and the NCP together can win the seat in the June 15 byelection as their coalition has a clear majority in the Maharashtra Assembly.

Mr Mahajan's brother-in-law and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde who met Leader of Opposition in Parliament L K Advani here, told UNI that there was no consensus within the BJP about fielding a party candidate either from Mr Mahajan's family or any other person to fill the vacancy.

However a section of the party is against seeking any help especially from the Congress. "It is utter madness to expect them to give this seat on a platter," a BJP leader not wanting to be quoted said.

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