The road to Lok Sabha passes through Rajya Sabha for Dravidian parties

Lok Sabha via Rajya Sabha
 

The two leading Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu are using Rajya Sabha seats, which fall vacant in July, as a lever to forge alliances ahead of the Lok Sabha election. Six Rajya Sabha seats fall vacant in June and both All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have offered one seat each to their small allies, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. With 21 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly falling vacant, the chances of these promises being kept would depend on the results of the by-poll for these seats.