New Delhi: Several senior BJP leaders and outgoing Rajya Sabha MPs, including seven Union Ministers like Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupender Yadav, have not been renominated by the party for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections. There are indications that many of them may contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections instead.
Among the 28 outgoing MPs, the BJP has renominated only four, including its president J P Nadda, two Union ministers, and the articulate national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi. The renominated ministers are Ashwini Vaishnaw and L Murugan.
Three of the new candidates – Dharmshila Gupta from Bihar, Medha Kulkarni from Maharashtra, and Maya Naroliya from Madhya Pradesh – are affiliated with the party’s ‘Mahila Morcha’ (women’s wing).
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Mansukh Mandaviya, Parshottam Rupala, Narayan Rane, and V Muraleedharan are five other ministers whose term is ending in the Upper House and who have not been renominated by the BJP.
The Election Commission announced the date for 56 Rajya Sabha seats in 15 states. The elections will take place on February 27 and the votes will be counted on the same day. The term of office of 56 members is due to expire on their retirement in April 2024.
