Jaipur: With three Rajya Sabha seats from the state expected to become vacant in June, both the state BJP and Congress have commenced deliberations to finalise candidates. Currently, the three seats are occupied by Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and Rajendra Gehlot from BJP, and Congressman Neeraj Dangi. Based on the current 200-member Rajasthan Assembly—118 BJP MLAs and 67 Congress MLAs—the BJP is poised to clinch two seats while Congress is likely to retain one. Insiders say there is a significant chance of Bittu being renominated, particularly as he is a Union minister and his name was absent from the nominees of the states voting on March 16. For the second seat, BJP is considering social and caste dynamics. Names such as former leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore and ex-BJP president Satish Poonia are being floated. Both claim significant community influence, despite their losses in the 2023 assembly polls. Congress is taking cues from its central leadership. “The decision will be made by the party high command,” said state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra. A section of Congress members is pushing for a minority candidate, as there is none currently among the state’s 35 MPs—25 in LS and 10 in RS.
