A tough contest is on the cards for the fifth seat between Trinamool nominee Ahmad Hasan and independent candidate Ahmed Saeed Mahilabadi, the latter backed by the Congress and the LF. The LF has said it would transfer its surplus votes to ensure Malihabadi's victory.
A candidate would need 49 first preference votes to be elected to the upper house from the state. Malihabadi can make the cut if he secures the votes of all LF and Congress MLAs, but Hasan may emerge triumphant in case of cross voting.
Trinamool Congress general secretary Mukul Roy claimed his party was in a position to elect its fourth candidate on its own strength.
