BJP releases Rajya Sabha list; Amit Shah to visit Patna for filing

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Patna for Nitin Nabin's nomination. The BJP released its first list of 9 Rajya Sabha candidates for 6 states, including Bihar, Assam, and Odisha, and also announced 4 candidates for Maharashtra.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Patna on Thursday to attend the nomination filings of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin as its candidate from Bihar, sources said.

BJP Releases Rajya Sabha Candidate List

The visit follows the release of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) first list of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections, which clears nine names across six states.

According to an official press release, the announcement was made by the party's Central Election Committee from its New Delhi headquarters. From Bihar, the party has selected BJP National President Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar. In Assam, Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan have been nominated, while Laxmi Verma will contest from Chhattisgarh. Haryana's candidate is Sanjay Bhatia. Odisha will see Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar representing the party, and Rahul Sinha has been chosen from West Bengal.

Maharashtra Candidates

Earlier today, in Maharashtra, the BJP announced four candidates for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections, announcing the names of Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, among 2 others.

The Republican Party of India chief and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale is set for another term in the Upper House, whereas BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde is looking to enter the Rajya Sabha for the first time. Ramrao Wadkute and Maya Chitaman Ivnate are also selected as candidates.

Election Commission Announces Schedule

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that polling for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections will be held on March 16, with vote counting the same day at 5 pm and the process concluding by March 20.

The elections will fill 37 seats across 10 states - Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana - whose members' terms end in April 2026.

The notification was issued on February 26, commencing the election process, while the last date for nominations is March 5, scrutiny on March 6, and withdrawal by March 9. (ANI)

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