Cong fields T V Maruthi for second seat in Karnataka

NEW DELHI: Congress today fielded T V Maruthi for the second seat to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka but the leader may find the going tough with the party not having adequate numbers to get him elected on its own.

Maruthi replaces AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad, who lost out following stiff opposition from H D Deve Gowda led JD(S) whose support is crucial for Congress to bag the seat.

Election to the Upper House is being held for four seats in the state.

Excluding the Speaker, BJP has 115 members, Congress 74, JDS 27, Independents six, and one seat is vacant in the 224-member Assembly.

While the ruling BJP has the numerical strength to win two seats, Congress can win only one Rajya Sabha seat on its own as a candidate requires 45 first preference votes to get elected.

The Congress, which has already named Oscar Fernandes for the first seat, needs the support of JD-S, which has 27 members, to win the second seat but is yet to announce any alliance with Gowda's party.

The filing of nominations for Rajya Sabha elections from the state is closing today.

Maruthi, a former general secretary of Karnatka Congress, is a prominent silk merchant, educationist and social worker.