Its seventh candidate is, however, short of 9 first preference votes. Tankha, whose party Congress has 57 votes, appears comfortably placed after BSP announced the backing of its four MLAs.Rajasthan is another state where Congress, with 24 MLAs, has forced a contest by backing an Independent candidate Kamal Morarka. But its first candidate and Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is sure of victory.The BJP has 43 MLAs on its own and enjoys the support of six more MLAs of its allies.JMM supremo Shibu Soren's son Basant is pitted against BJP's Mahesh Poddar. Union Minister Nirmala Seetharaman of BJP, who needs just one vote more than the party's strength of 44, and former union ministers Jairam Ramesh and Oscar Fernandes of Congress are sure of victory.With 122 members, Congress has a surplus of 33 votes after ensuring the victory of Ramesh and Fernandes. However, if Congress (6), RJD and rest of the opposition come together and back the JMM candidate, Basant can look at victory.Uttarkhand, where election is only for one seat, Congress nominee Pradeep Tamta is set to sail through needing just two additional votes apart from his party's 26 and ally PDF's six.

Source: Economic Times June 11, 2016 05:37 UTC