Mallya set to win RS poll from Karnataka with BJP support

BANGALORE: Business tycoon Vijay Mallya is all set to win in tomorrow's biennial elections to Rajya Sabha with the support of the ruling BJP.

"BJP has taken a decision to defeat the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha election as per the directive of the national leadership," state unit BJP President K S Eswarappa announced at a press conference after BJP Legislature Party meeting here.

"BJP has decided to defeat Congress candidates throughout the country," Eswarappa said, apparently indicating that his party would help Mallya, the JD-S backed independent, to ensure his second term in the Rajya Sabha.

Mallya has spoken to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and other BJP leaders, he said responding to a query, but sidestepped a question on whether any decision has been taken to vote for the liquor baron.

"Tomorrow, we will tell our MLAs on the voting pattern," Eswarappa said.

A BJP source, however, said BJP would allot the required 45 votes to each of its candidates -- M Venkaiah Naidu, who is set to perform a hat-trick from Karnataka and Ayanur Manjunath and the remaining votes would automatically be given to Mallya, who has the support of 27 JDS MLAs and an independent.

Mallya was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent for the first time in 2002.

The opposition Congress which has fielded former union minister Oscar Fernandes, is also contesting the fourth seat through T V Maruthi, one of its senior leaders.

Congress has allotted 45 votes to Oscar Fernandes out of its strength of 74 and the remaining 29 to Maurthi.

In the 224-member assembly, BJP has a strength of 116, followed by Congress 74, JDS 27 and Independents six. One seat is vacant.