The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections next month are significant for Rajasthan. Two seats are expected to go to BJP, and one to Congress. Both parties are closely watching several prominent figures. In Congress, this time, efforts will be made to give an opportunity to someone from the state or someone may be sent from Delhi.
Congress treasurer Ajay Maken will likely try, and the focus will also be on party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi. Singhvi’s term is ending in April. Considering the health of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress is likely to give a chance to a new face this time. Therefore, Singhvi and Maken will strive for the seat becoming vacant in Rajasthan.
It will be interesting to see if a local leader gets an opportunity or an outsider, especially as last time, C. Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala, and Pramod Tiwari were sent to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. Bhupender Yadav’s term with Manmohan Singh is also ending in April.
The third seat was given to Kirori Lal Meena, who contested the state assembly elections last year and is now a senior minister in the state.
For the BJP, discussions are ongoing regarding the former state president Satish Poonia, Bhupender Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnav, and Rajendra Rathore, but it remains to be seen if the party fields these leaders in the Lok Sabha elections or sends them to the Rajya Sabha. Discussions are also taking place in the BJP about whether to make the central ministers contest Lok Sabha elections from Rajasthan.
Ashwini Vaishnav for Jaipur and Bhupender Yadav for Alwar are under consideration. The BJP is also contemplating sending four to five legislators to contest Lok
Sabha elections in Delhi and sending some strong leaders in their place to the state assembly. The deadline for nominations for the vacant Rajya Sabha seats is February 15.
In other words, by the 15th of next month, it will be known whether the BJP is giving Rajya Sabha tickets to new faces or offering the opportunity to active leaders.