On September 3, the BJP announced nine candidates for the Rajya Sabha by-elections from nine states. The party is expected to win all these seats. Interestingly, about half of these candidates, four in total, have joined the BJP from other parties. Two candidates came from Congress, one from BJD, and one from PWP. The remaining candidates are from the RSS background.
Key Defectors in BJP’s List
- Sardar Ravneet Singh Bittu: A major defector is Sardar Ravneet Singh Bittu, a former prominent leader of Punjab Congress. He joined the BJP just before the Lok Sabha elections but lost in Ludhiana. Despite this, he was made a central minister. Now, he is the BJP’s candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election from Rajasthan, as he needs to become a member of Parliament within six months.
- Kiran Choudhary: Another significant defector is Kiran Choudhary from Haryana. She was a senior Congress leader and the daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Bansi Lal. After joining the BJP two months ago, she has been nominated for the Rajya Sabha by-election. The BJP aims to use her candidacy to appeal to Jat voters. It is also possible that her daughter, Shruti, will be fielded in Haryana’s Assembly elections.
- Mamta Mohanta: From Odisha, Mamta Mohanta recently left BJD and joined the BJP. She was previously a Rajya Sabha member from BJD. Her resignation triggered the by-election for her seat, and the BJP has given her a ticket.
- Dhairysheel Patil: In Maharashtra, BJP has nominated Dhairysheel Patil for the Rajya Sabha by-election. He was a former MLA from PWP who joined the BJP last year. Although he lost the 2019 Assembly election to BJP’s Ravi Patil, the party hopes his candidacy will help in the Konkan region.
RSS Background Leaders
- Mission Ranjandas: From Assam, BJP has chosen Mission Ranjandas, an RSS background leader and a four-time MLA.
- Rameshwar Teli: For the second Assam seat, BJP has nominated former Union Minister Rameshwar Teli, who was a BJP MP from Dibrugarh before his ticket was cut for the 2019 elections.
- Rajeev Bhattacharya: From Tripura, BJP has selected Rajeev Bhattacharya, the state BJP president and an old RSS worker.
- George Kurian: For Madhya Pradesh, the party has nominated George Kurian, a senior BJP leader from Kerala. He also needs to become a member of Parliament within six months.
- Manan Kumar Mishra: From Bihar, BJP has nominated Manan Kumar Mishra, a former Bar Council president and close to central BJP leaders.
Allies and Other Candidates
The BJP has also considered its allies. For the second Bihar seat, the RLP’s Upendra Kushwaha has been nominated as part of a deal. In Maharashtra, the second seat has been given to Ajit Pawar’s NCP, following Pawar’s resignation from a Lok Sabha seat.
The BJP’s strategy reflects its focus on including influential defectors and maintaining good relations with allies.
