Jaipur, June 8 (IANS) Senior BJP leaders Satish Poonia and Alka Singh Gurjar on Monday filed their nomination papers as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidates for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan.

Before filing his nomination, Satish Poonia offered prayers at the revered Shri Govind Dev Ji Temple in Jaipur and sought the blessings of the presiding deity of the Pink City.

Sharing the moment on X, Poonia wrote, “After performing worship and rituals at the abode of Jaipur’s presiding deity, Shri Govind Dev Ji Maharaj, I sought his blessings.”

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Deputy Chief Ministers Diya Kumari and Dr Prem Chand Bairwa, Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore, senior party leaders, public representatives, and party workers were present during Poonia’s nomination filing.

Dr Alka Singh Gurjar also filed her nomination papers in the presence of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, BJP State President Madan Rathore, and other senior party leaders.

Earlier in the day, both candidates met Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma at the BJP state headquarters before filing their nominations.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said, “Today at the BJP state office, prior to the filing of nominations, I had a cordial meeting with BJP candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections from Rajasthan, Dr Satish Poonia ji and Smt Alka Gurjar ji. I congratulated them and extended my best wishes.”

CM Sharma added that BJP State President Madan Rathore, State General Secretary (Organisation) Ajaey Kumar, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, senior office-bearers, public representatives, and party workers were present on the occasion. Elections are due for three Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan.

The terms of Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, BJP MP Rajendra Gehlot, and Congress MP Neeraj Dangi will expire on June 21. Based on the current strength of parties in the Rajasthan Assembly, the BJP is virtually assured of winning two seats, while the Congress is expected to secure the third seat. Voting for the three Rajasthan seats will be held on June 18.

Political observers see the choice of Poonia, a prominent Jat leader, and Gurjar, a well-connected Gurjar face, as a calculated bid to consolidate support among two electorally significant groups in Rajasthan.

The Jat and Gurjar communities influence many Assembly constituencies, and the BJP’s move counters Congress’ own strong leaders from these groups.

This social balancing is also linked to the party’s positioning for the 2028 state elections.

Alka Gurjar’s nomination also addresses Rajasthan’s long-standing gender imbalance in Rajya Sabha representation; only nine women have represented the state since 1952. The decision follows the defeat of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha and is being read as a signal of BJP’s commitment to women’s political participation.

With the BJP enjoying a comfortable majority in the Rajasthan Assembly, both Satish Poonia and Alka Singh Gurjar are widely expected to secure victory in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

–IANS

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