Bihar: Nitish Kumar Names Former JDU Minister Sanjay Jha As Its Candidate To Rajya Sabha Polls

Jha, who is a member of the state legislative council, is said to be a close aide of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. 

Sanjay Jha is said to be a close confidant of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.  ( Image Source :X/@SanjayJhaBihar )

New Delhi: Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government on Tuesday named former minister from JDU Sanjay Kumar Jha as the candidate from the state for the upcoming Rajya Sabha Election.

 

Jha, who is a member of the state legislative council, is said to be a close aide of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. 

 

The elections are all set to take place on February 27 and the votes will be counted on the same day.

National President of Janata Dal (United) & Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar has decided Sanjay Kumar Jha (National General Secretary & Ex-Minister, Govt of Bihar), as the candidate of the Party from Bihar State for the biennial Rajya Sabha Election 2024: JDU pic.twitter.com/eYpDYESLKD

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

The polls, for which the last date of filing nomination papers is February 15, are scheduled for six seats in Bihar. The ruling NDA comprising the JD(U) and the BJP, is contesting three.

 

The BJP has named state women's wing chief Dharmshila Gupta and state vice president Bhim Singh as its candidates from the state, reported PTI. The remaining three seats are likely to be contested by 'Mahagathbandhan' which comprises the RJD, Congress, and three Left parties.

 

BJP announced its candidates from Bihar, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The Congress has not yet declared a candidate.

ECI Announcement On Rajya Sabha Election 2024

Last month, the Election Commission of India (ECI) declared the schedule for the Rajya Sabha elections across 15 states, encompassing 56 seats. The polling for these seats, scheduled for February 27, aims to fill vacancies created by retiring members in April 2024.

According to the commission's press note, Uttar Pradesh will witness the retirement of the highest count of members, totaling 10, on April 2, 2024. Similarly, Maharashtra and Bihar will see six members retiring on the same date. West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh are set to have five members each retiring on April 2, 2024. Karnataka and Gujarat will observe the retirement of four members each on the same date.

Furthermore, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Rajasthan will each witness the retirement of three members, with their retirement dates falling in early April 2024. Additionally, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are expected to have one member each retiring on April 2, 2024.

The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections are poised to be a crucial battleground for political parties, with each vying to secure a strong representation in the upper house of the Parliament.