Congress Nominates Rajkumar Lohani for Rajya Sabha By-Election in Madhya Pradesh
Congress has fielded Rajkumar Lohani against BJPs Hardeep Singh Puri in Madhya Pradeshs Rajya Sabha by-election, intensifying political rivalry.
Bhopal, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : Congress has officially nominated Rajkumar Lohani as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh. This move sets the stage for a direct contest against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has put forward Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate.
On the final day of the nomination process, Lohani submitted his papers with the support of Congress MLA and opposition deputy leader Hemant Katare. Accompanying Lohani were several other party members, including MLA Atif Akeel from Bhopal North. However, no senior Congress leaders were present during the nomination filing.
The Madhya Pradesh Assembly comprises 230 members, from which Rajya Sabha members are elected. The BJP holds a significant majority in the Assembly, yet Congress has opted to contest the election. Puri, the BJP candidate, filed his nomination on October 31 in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and other senior party officials.
Lohani faces a challenging battle, but his candidacy signifies Congress’s intent to politically challenge the BJP. This by-election was necessitated by the resignation of Union Minister L. Murugan from the Rajya Sabha on October 14, ahead of the end of his term on April 2, 2030. Murugan resigned to focus on strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
The election is particularly noteworthy as Puri’s current term from Uttar Pradesh is set to expire on November 25. The effective strength of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly for this by-election is 229 members, with the BJP holding 164 seats compared to Congress’s limited representation. This gives the ruling party a strong advantage in securing the seat.
According to the Election Commission’s schedule, the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on November 3, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until November 5. If necessary, voting will occur on November 12 between 9 AM and 4 PM, followed by vote counting at 5 PM. The entire election process is expected to conclude by November 16.
Madhya Pradesh currently has 11 Rajya Sabha seats, with eight held by the BJP, two by Congress, and one seat remaining vacant.
