Nagpur: The Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) late on Sunday night selected two-term Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Rajendra Jain from Gondia for the Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant after Sunetra Pawar assumed the role of deputy chief minister following her husband's demise. The nomination, approved by the party's core committee in Mumbai, provides the NCP (Ajit Pawar) with another representative from the Vidarbha region in Parliament's Upper House, alongside Praful Patel.
Official Announcement
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai after the core committee meeting, NCP Maharashtra state president and Lok Sabha member Sunil Tatkare stated, "Jain has been declared the official candidate by the party for this seat. He represented the Bhandara-Gondia local self-government constituency in the Legislative Council for 12 years. The party has unanimously decided to field him from the standpoint of giving the party an opportunity in Vidarbha as well, which was in our minds for a long time."
Jain's Political Career
Rajendra Jain served two consecutive terms as MLC from 2004 to 2010 and 2010 to 2016, both representing the Gondia-Bhandara local bodies seat. His long tenure reflects his deep roots in the region and his loyalty to the party.
Reaction to Nomination
Reacting to his nomination, Jain attributed his elevation to his steadfast loyalty to the party. "I am an honest party worker. Under the guidance of late Ajit dada, I was elected to the Legislative Council twice. Sunetratai, Parth dada, Chhagan Bhujbal saheb, Dilip Walse Patil saheb, Sunil Tatkare saheb, and MP Praful Patel saheb have expressed faith that I will work well in Vidarbha and fulfil the dream of late Ajit dada," Jain said.
Mentorship and Electoral History
Praful Patel is considered Jain's political mentor for over two decades. Jain's 2004 MLC win is widely attributed to Patel's backing. In that election, Jain polled 187 votes in the Gondia local self-government contest, defeating BJP's Brahmanand Karanjekar by 44 votes. He retained the merged Bhandara-Gondia local authorities seat in 2010 as the official Congress-NCP combine nominee. The seat went to the BJP after 2016.
This development underscores the NCP's strategic focus on Vidarbha, a key region in Maharashtra politics. Jain's experience and loyalty are expected to bolster the party's presence in the Rajya Sabha.
