On Wednesday, the Congress unveiled its official Rajya Sabha candidate list, revealing strategic nominations for key states. Sonia Gandhi will contest from Rajasthan, while Abhishek Manu Singhvi secures the nomination from Himachal Pradesh. Additionally, Ajay Maken emerges as the party’s candidate in Karnataka.
Chandrakant Handore, a dedicated AICC member and prominent Dalit face, aimed for the Legislative Council but faced an electoral setback. Despite his loss, Handore remains a significant figure, having previously served as the Social Justice Minister.
In Telangana, Congress will field Renuka Chowdhury and Anil Yadav as its candidates, according to reliable sources.
The Election Commission declared that the biennial Rajya Sabha polls, scheduled for February 27, will witness contests for 56 seats. This includes seats held by notable figures like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP president J P Nadda, whose terms conclude in April. Among the vacancies are positions held by nine Union ministers, including Ashwini Vaishnaw, Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupendra Yadav, and Mansukh Mandaviya. The official nomination process commences on February 8, with nominations accepted until February 15. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until February 20.
The voting is set to take place from 9 am to 4 pm on the election day, with the counting scheduled for the same evening, starting at 5 pm. While 50 members will retire on April 2, six more will follow on April 3, as outlined by the Election Commission.
The forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections hold significant political importance, not only in terms of individual candidacies but also in shaping the balance of power within the upper house of Parliament. The nominations reflect the party’s strategy to field candidates strategically, considering the regional and political dynamics of each state.
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