High-Stakes Rajya Sabha Polls in UP, Himachal and Karnataka

The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on March 26, 2024, have generated an awful lot of political interest and drama in several states, in particular Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka, where seats are up for grabs.

BJP Seeks to Increase RS Seats in UP

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is seeking to win eight out of the eleven seats to boost its numbers inside the upper house. The party has fielded applicants like Laxmikant Bajpai, Mithilesh Kumar, Radha Mohan Dal Agarwal, K Laxman, Darshana Singh, Babu Ram Nishad, and two businessmen, Pankaj Chaudhary and Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi. The BJP is confident of prevailing with its massive majority inside the UP meeting. However, it needs independents and allies like the Nishad Party and Apna Dal (S) to secure all eight seats.

SP, BSP Field Candidates Too

The Samajwadi Party has fielded Kapil Sibal and Javed Ali Khan for the polls, while the Bahujan Samaj Party has named Dr Ambedkar Nagar MP Danish Ali as its candidate. The SP and BSP are quick to win seats but have still fielded candidates to project the BJP. The Congress isn’t contesting in Uttar Pradesh.

Congress Fields 2 Candidates in Himachal

In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress is hoping to win each Rajya Sabha seat up for election. The celebration has fielded Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma and former nation leader Mukesh Agnihotri. The BJP has nominated former minister Jagat Prakash Nadda’s son Siddharth Nadda and minority cell head Indu Goswami. Winning both seats will be hard for Congress given the BJP’s majority in the Himachal assembly.

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Jarkiholi Factor in Karnataka Polls

The excessive-profile contest in Karnataka is for 4 Rajya Sabha seats currently held by the BJP and JD(S). The BJP has fielded three applicants: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, actor-politician Jaggesh, and MLC Lehar Singh Siroya. The fourth candidate, Kupendra Reddy, withdrew his nomination on the final day to facilitate Sitharaman’s election.

The suspense is at the 4th seat, for which the Congress has fielded Mansoor Ali Khan in opposition to JD’s D Kupendra Reddy. The BJP has struck a deal with JD(S); however, the Congress is hoping for guidance from rising BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, currently embroiled in an intercourse-tape scandal. Jarkiholi’s support may lead to a hard contest.

Intense Political Activity in All 3 States

The Rajya Sabha elections have triggered energetic political parleys, allegations, and camp politics in UP, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka. While the BJP is looking to amplify its RS tally, the contests have created uncertainties and tensions inside the events too. The polls will check birthday party loyalties and may throw up surprises within the final results.