New Delhi
West Bengal Congress unit has recommended to the party high command that the party should field former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as a candidate for ensuing Rajya Sabha elections from the state.
Ms Kumar, who was defeated in the July 17 Presidential poll by Ram Nath Kovind of NDA, is likely to get endorsement of the Left and even Trinamool Congress, a TMC leader said.
West Bengal pradesh Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is said to have taken the initiative and also met the party’s leadership in New Delhi to discuss the probable name of its lone candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll in West Bengal.
Polls will be held for six Rajya Sabhe seats from West Bengal. Out of the six, while four are held by Trinamool Congress, with enhanced strength, it can manage to pick up five. Congress with 44 MLAs can win one seat.
In related development, the CPI-M has decided not to field party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who retires on August 18, for the Upper House.
Interestingly, the decision to stall Mr Yechury’s attempt for re-election to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal was taken after hardliners especially from Kerala insisted that they “should not take help of Congress” to get the party general secretary re-elected.
The central committee of the CPI-M took the decision as under norms so far, no CPI(M) leader can represent the party in the Upper House for more than two terms.
Mr Yechury’s exit from the Rajya Sabha would deprive the Left parties in particular and the opposition parties in general a vocal leader – who played a major role in ensuring effective floor coordination among the non-NDA parties and the Congress.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front has only 32 MLAs in the Assembly.