First time in 41 years, No TDP MP in Rajya Sabha!

For the first ever time since it came to power in 1983, the Telugu Desam party would be left without any representation in the Rajya Sabha. The term of it lone MP Kanakamedala Ravindra is set to be over in March and there would be elections to the vacant seats.

However, the TDP is not in a position to win the seat. So, the party has reportedly decided not to field any candidate this time.

Thus, the TDP would be left without any Rajya Sabha MP for the first time since its inception 41 years ago.Elections would be held for four Rajya Sabha MPs seats and the MLAs would be the voters.

As per the electoral calculations, a winning candidate has to get 44 votes. As of now, the TDP has just 18 MLAs in its kitty. Though it had won 23 seats, five of its MLAs are now aligned with the YSRCP.

Thus, the YSRCP would be in a position to get all its nominees. As a result, all the 11 Rajya Sabha seats in the state would be represented by the YSRCP and the TDP would be left with a zilch.

In the recent MLC elections, the TDP could score a major upset when it made four disgruntled YSRCP MLAs to vote for its candidate Panchumarthi Anuradha. This enabled her to win the elections and jolt the ruling YSRCP.

But, the same strategy cannot work in the Rajya Sabha as the TDP needs 27 more votes. Sources say Jagan is determined this time not to allow any cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections.