The Congress party has announced the names of seven candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge is set to file his nomination from Karnataka, where he will be joined by local candidate Mansoor Ali Khan and AICC spokesman Pawan Khera as the other two candidates from the state.
Candidates from Karnataka
Mallikarjun Kharge, the current President of the Indian National Congress, will contest the Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka. Alongside him, the party has fielded Mansoor Ali Khan, a local leader, and Pawan Khera, who serves as the AICC spokesperson. These three candidates will represent the party from the southern state.
Jharkhand Candidate
In Jharkhand, the Congress has decided to field Pranav Jha, who currently serves as an advisor to Kharge. Jha hails from the state, which is currently governed by a rainbow coalition comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). His candidature reflects the party's strategy to strengthen its presence in the state.
Tamil Nadu Seat
Praveen Chakravarty, the chairman of the AICC data analytics department, will contest the lone Rajya Sabha seat coming up for election in Tamil Nadu. Despite the Congress having only five MLAs in the state, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Vijay has allocated the seat to the Congress at its request. This move underscores the alliance dynamics in the state.
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
Former Member of Parliament Meenakshi Natarajan has been fielded from Madhya Pradesh. In Rajasthan, the party has decided to re-nominate Neeraj Dangi, who has been a sitting Rajya Sabha member. These selections are part of the party's broader strategy to ensure representation in the Upper House of Parliament.
The announcement was made by the Congress party's central election committee, highlighting the party's preparations for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha. The candidates are expected to file their nominations in the coming days, with the elections scheduled to take place later this year.
