Jaipur, June 2 (IANS) The nomination process for the Rajya Sabha elections in Rajasthan began on Monday, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are yet to announce their candidates for the three seats falling vacant from the state.

No nomination papers were filed on the opening day. Candidates can submit their nominations until June 8, while scrutiny of papers will be conducted on June 9.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is June 11, and polling will be held on June 18. Assembly Principal Secretary Bharat Bhushan Sharma has been appointed Returning Officer for the elections.

Nomination papers can be filed in Room No. 106 of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. by the candidate or one of the proposers. The election has gained political significance as the terms of three Rajya Sabha members from Rajasthan, including Rajendra Gehlot, Ravneet Singh Bittu and Neeraj Dangi, are set to end on June 20. While the first two MPs are from BJP, Dangi represents Congress.

As the nomination process is underway, the BJP has intensified consultations to finalise its candidates.

Following a meeting of national office-bearers in New Delhi on Monday, BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh held discussions with state presidents from states going to Rajya Sabha polls. According to party sources, detailed deliberations are underway on potential candidates, with the party’s core committee also engaged in consultations. Elections are being held for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across ten states, besides a few vacancies elsewhere, making the candidate selection process politically important for the party leadership. In Rajasthan, the BJP’s strength in the 200-member Assembly places it in a comfortable position to secure two of the three seats.

Unlike the BJP, there has been little visible activity within the Rajasthan Congress regarding candidate selection. Party leaders maintain that the final decision will be taken by the Congress high command in New Delhi. However, discussions over possible names have begun within party circles. Following the conclusion of the party’s 10-day training camp for district presidents in Pushkar, the focus is expected to shift towards the Rajya Sabha elections.

Congress party officials said there are demands from various sections within the party to ensure representation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minority communities in the nominations. Senior leaders are also lobbying for consideration as the party prepares to decide its candidate for the lone seat it is expected to win based on its Assembly strength. The arithmetic in the Rajasthan Assembly clearly favours the ruling BJP.

With its current strength, the party is expected to comfortably win two seats, while the Congress is likely to secure one. The key political question now is not the outcome of the election but who the two parties choose to send to the Upper House.

With both the BJP and Congress yet to reveal their candidates, political circles in Jaipur remain abuzz with speculation as the nomination deadline is approaching.

–IANS

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