Realpolitik To Decide RS Nominations From States

As the race for the Rajya Sabha hots up in states, all parties across the political spectrum are finding it hard to deal with aspirations within and balance nominations.

Inter and intra party politics are in full play, with even fringe parties and independents being intensely wooed by various political formations in states.

There are big names ‘retiring’ from the House of Elders this year, of whom, some may be re-nominated, while many are deemed ‘over the hill.’ Expectedly, a new generation of would-bes crowd the party aspirants lists this year to fill in for outgoing stalwarts like Rajya Sabha Speaker Harivansh of the JD(U), Ramdas Athawale from Maharashtra and Sharad Pawar, the NCP chief.

Given the politics in states, what has always weighed more on parties’ brains trust is the real politick- which forces them to weigh candidatures and nominations in the crucible of regional and community balances, as also caste.

With nominations in cow belt states mainly balanced in the scale of caste, nominations more often also define the party’s philosophy and approach to ground politics.

Cong in focus in West-Central