The BJP has nominated Ashwini Vaishnav for Rajya Sabha renomination in Odisha, with the support of the ruling BJD. This move highlights the focus on the upcoming polls and the selection of candidates by the BJP. Vaishnaw, who served his first term in 2019, is likely to be elected unopposed once again, despite the BJP’s limited strength in the state assembly. The decision comes amidst criticism from Congress leaders, who accuse the BJD and BJP of running a partnership government in Odisha.
The BJP has recently released a list of five candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, and it includes some notable names. Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw from Odisha and L Murugan from Madhya Pradesh are among those on the list. Additionally, three more candidates from Madhya Pradesh have been named: Umesh Nath Maharaj, Maya Maroliya, and Bansilal Gurjar.
Both Vaishnaw and Murugan will be serving their second term in the upper house if elected. It’s worth noting that Vaishnaw is likely to be elected with the support of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha. This speaks to the political landscape and alliances that play a role in these elections.
Earlier, the BJP had already named 14 candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls, including former Union minister R P N Singh and Sudhanshu Trivedi. Later on, two more candidates from Rajasthan were announced, replacing outgoing MP and Union minister Bhupender Yadav.
This article sheds light on the focus on the Rajya Sabha polls and the selection of candidates by the BJP. The re-nomination of Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw from Odisha is of particular interest. The BJP has officially announced his name as their candidate from the state, and the ruling BJD has expressed support for his candidature.
Interestingly, this is reminiscent of Vaishnaw’s first stint in 2019 when he was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha despite the BJP’s limited strength in the state assembly. It seems that the decision to support Vaishnaw has been made amidst criticism from senior Congress leaders, who accuse the BJD and BJP of running a partnership government in Odisha.
Despite having the majority, the BJD has only fielded two candidates for the Rajya Sabha, which has sparked speculation about the behind-the-scenes consultations between the BJP central leadership and the BJD. In 2019, the BJD decided to support Vaishnaw following a call from Prime Minister Modi to Chief Minister Patnaik.
Vaishnaw, a former IAS officer, originally hails from Rajasthan but has previous experience serving as a district collector in Odisha. As part of the nomination process, Vaishnaw is expected to reach the Odisha BJP headquarters in Bhubaneswar to sign his nomination papers. Moreover, state BJP MLAs have been urged to swiftly make their way to the capital as proposers.
These developments in the Rajya Sabha polls highlight the intricate dynamics and strategies at play in Indian politics. As the campaign and election process unfold, it will be interesting to see the outcomes and how they shape the future of the upper house.
