Patna, Mar 10 (PTI) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday expressed confidence that the party will win the Rajya Sabha election.
RJD MP Amarendra Dhari Singh has filed his nomination papers, seeking reelection for a second consecutive term.
“We have an adequate number on our side, and that is why we are confident of a victory,” Yadav, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, told reporters after a meeting with legislators of the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan.
Mahagathbandhan has 35 MLAs — six less than the number required for bagging a Rajya Sabha seat. Leaders of the grouping have been claiming that the AIMIM, which has five MLAs, and the lone BSP legislator will support their candidate “in the interest of secularism”.
AIMIM state president Akhtarul Iman said he had received a call from Yadav regarding the matter.
“I have received a call from Tejashwi Yadav. He wants to meet. I will discuss the matter with fellow legislators and the party high command. If they agree, we will meet and hold further discussions,” Iman told PTI.
Referring to his party’s earlier position, he said, “AIMIM must not always be expected to support others. It is high time that others supported us.” AIMIM has been sore over the Mahagathbandhan’s refusal to tie up ahead of last year’s assembly polls, in which it demanded six seats.
Five seats from the state are going to the polls, and a total of six candidates, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP president Nitin Nabin, are in the fray.
The NDA enjoys a brute majority of 202 in the 243-member assembly. However, it is short of three MLAs needed to secure all five Rajya Sabha seats going to the polls on March 16. PTI PKD SOM
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.