BJP Nominates Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for Rajya Sabha from Odisha

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its second list of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, with notable inclusion of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw from Odisha. The elections are scheduled for February 27, with Vaishnaw’s current tenure ending in April. Previously elected in 2019 with support from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Vaishnaw’s re-nomination comes at a crucial time as the BJP looks to secure seats in the Rajya Sabha.

Despite belonging to the BJP, Vaishnaw’s election in 2019 was facilitated through the support of the BJD, following a request by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This year, the BJD has not named a third candidate, alongside its two nominees Debashish Samantaray and Subhasish Khuntia, leading to speculation about continued support for Vaishnaw. The BJP, with 22 MLAs in the Odisha Assembly, would need the BJD’s backing to win, as a candidate requires at least 37 votes to secure a Rajya Sabha seat in Odisha.

Alongside Vaishnaw, the BJP has announced candidates for several other states, including Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. This strategic move highlights the party’s efforts to strengthen its representation in the Rajya Sabha ahead of the elections, with a total of 14 names announced in the initial list.

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