The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified its preparations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections by announcing four candidates.
The party’s Central Election Committee approved the names, which were formally announced by BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh.
For the Rajya Sabha, BJP nominated Mahesh Kewat from Madhya Pradesh and Professor Dr M. Nagarajan from Karnataka. Kewat, a seasoned party functionary, will face Congress nominee Meenakshi Natarajan in Madhya Pradesh, where three seats are up for grabs. The BJP had earlier named Tarun Chugh and Rajneesh Agrawal as candidates, ensuring a strong presence in the contest.
In Karnataka, the party fielded Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya for the biennial Legislative Council elections. Karnataka, with its bicameral legislature, will witness a crucial contest as the BJP seeks to strengthen its position in the upper house of the state legislature.
The arithmetic of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly plays a decisive role in the Rajya Sabha race. Out of 230 members, the effective voting strength stands at 228. BJP holds 164 legislators, while Congress has seen its numbers decline. A candidate requires 58 votes to secure victory. Analysts believe BJP can comfortably win two seats, while the third seat will see a competitive battle between Kewat and Natarajan.
Voting for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, including Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, will take place on June 18. The Karnataka Legislative Council elections will also be conducted on the same day.
