Jaipur, June 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced the candidacies of former Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia and national secretary Alka Gurjar for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. This decision, made on Thursday, is seen as a strategic political move aimed at sending a strong message to the influential Jat and Gurjar communities in the state.
Elections for the three Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan are scheduled for June 18, with the counting of votes taking place on the same day. Based on its current standing in the assembly, the BJP is expected to secure two of the three seats with relative ease.
The vacancies arose due to the expiration of terms for central minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, BJP MP Rajendra Gehlot, and Congress MP Neeraj Dangi on June 21. Political observers view the selection of Poonia and Gurjar as a way for the BJP to strengthen its ties with these significant communities ahead of future electoral battles.
Poonia has been a prominent figure in the BJP’s organizational structure in Rajasthan for many years. Meanwhile, Gurjar’s nomination is recognized as an acknowledgment of the growing political significance of the Gurjar community in the state.
Poonia has held several key positions within the party and has previously served as the president of the Rajasthan BJP. Despite losing in the 2023 assembly elections, he has retained the confidence of the central leadership and has been entrusted with responsibilities outside the state. After playing a crucial role in the Bihar elections, he was appointed as the BJP’s in-charge for Haryana.
His nomination for the Rajya Sabha is seen as a signal that the party continues to value experienced organizational leaders and is committed to rewarding loyalty and performance.
Alka Gurjar has been associated with the BJP organization for decades and has previously served as a legislator and minister. Currently, she holds the position of national secretary for the party. Her family has longstanding ties with the BJP; her husband, Dr. Nathoo Singh Gurjar, has also served as a minister during the BJP government and has held several senior organizational roles.
With Gurjar’s potential election to the Rajya Sabha, the BJP appears eager to strengthen its outreach among Gurjar voters while rewarding a leader with a deep-rooted connection to the organization. This move is also seen as aligning with the party’s commitment to women’s representation and empowerment.
The Congress has yet to announce its candidate for the third Rajya Sabha seat.
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