Rajya Sabha race from Karnataka- The probables

The race for the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka is hotting up. While the BJP has made it clear that it would send Venkaiah Naidu to the upper house despite protests that termed him an outsider, the JD(S) and the Congress is yet to decide on the candidates.

The Congress can elect two candidates on its own while the BJP and the JD(S) can send one each. The JD(S) had indicated that it would send to the Rajya Sabha a businessman. The Congress on the other hand is yet to decide on who it would send to the Rajya Sabha although there five names doing the rounds including that of former union minister P Chidambaram.

The probables:

Even as the name of P Chidambaram did the rounds, there was already a minor revolt in the Congress. Many leaders were vocal about not choosing Chidamabaram and said that the Congress does not believe in sending outsiders. There is no dearth of talent of leadership in Karnataka, senior leaders of the Congress, Umashree and Dr B L Shankar said.

However the name of Chidambaram has not been omitted as yet. It would depend on what call the high command would take. The other names that are doing the rounds in the Congress circles are that of Oscar Fernandes, Lakshmi Hebalkar and Rani Sathish. The name of Margret Alva too is in the pipeline, but Congress sources say that her name could go through only if Oscar Fernandes is out of the race.

The BJP has however decided to once again Venkaiah Naidu. The party made it clear that this was their decision and there has been no further argument on this issue from within the party. The JD(S) which can elect one candidate has suggested that it would send a businessman to the Rajya Sabha.

Doing the rounds in the JD(S) circles is the name of businessman from Mangalore, M A Farooq. However the JD(S) is also looking at another possibility of suggesting the name of Dayanand Reddy who was expelled from the Congress recently.