With Rajya Sabha elections suddenly being announced, many hopefuls, who were confident of making the cut if they (RS polls) were held post the Assembly elections, have now been thrown into a tizzy.
The Assembly elections will change the political alignment in the state and those who can be expected to win a berth in the Rajya Sabha before the Assembly polls are not the same guys who can be elected after the Assembly polls.
There is, however, further confusion in Andhra Pradesh because, with lines being drawn between Seemandhra and Telangana, cross voting is likely.
This means that even Congress MLAs, who should vote for their party candidates, may not actually do so.
As a result of this confusion, votes may be cast on other considerations.
A little bird tells me that even money could be a factor, and if reports emanating are correct then it could be Rs 1 crore per vote.
Not less than 40 votes will be required for a winning candidate and theoretically, if a candidate has to buy those many votes (provided that those many MLAs are willing to sell their conscience), then the cost of becoming an MP in the upper House will be Rs 40 crore.
That is a mind boggling figure and i earnestly hope that my information is wrong.
Source: TimesOfIndia
