EX-CS ALOK RANJAN IN RACE FOR RS SEAT

Lucknow: After a setback in recently concluded Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad polls, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is fine tuning its strategy for the upcoming elections to 11 Rajya Sabha seats. And among the aspirants the name of former chief secretary Alok Ranjan is also doing the rounds.

Known for his proximity to Samajadi PresidentAkhilesh Yadav, Alok Ranjan was not only Chief Secretary during Samajwadi Party regime but is also said to have player a major role in drafting party’s poll manifesto in 2022 assembly elections.

Jo Antony, SP’s founder member and Abu Asim Azmi, party’s prominent Muslim face in Maharashtra are also said to be other contenders in the race.

According to the numbers, it would be easy for BJP and its alliance partners to send at least seven members to the Upper House and the SP would be able to send at least three members to the Rajya Sabha.

Thus, while the fate of 10 members out of 11 can be ascertained, it is the 11th seat for which there is likely to be a contest if both the parties decide to field their candidates.

The SP is expected to concede one seat to its alliance partner RLD.

While the Congress is likely to support the SP, it is the smaller parties, who are likely to emerge as significant players, especially the Jansatta Dal Loktantrik party of Raghuraj Pratap Singh, which has two members.

It goes without saying that keeping the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in mind, caste and local equations will play a significant role in deciding the candidates.