- Sunil Sethi: Party to contest all seats, names to be finalized soon
- BJP eyes one winnable seat; NC-led alliance holds majority in House
- Core group meets in Jammu; Jitendra Singh, Tarun Chugh attend
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its decision to field three candidates in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for October 24, signaling a determined bid to contest all available seats.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu, BJP spokesperson Sunil Sethi confirmed that the party will contest each of the seats going to polls. “We have decided to field three candidates in the elections,” Sethi said, adding that discussions were held to identify the right kind of individuals capable of effectively representing the party in the Upper House.
According to party insiders, BJP plans to field candidates on all seats — two for symbolic contests against the ruling National Conference-led alliance, and one for a seat where the party sees a realistic chance of victory.
Sources suggest that the BJP may opt for strong contenders for the winnable seat, while the first two contests are expected to be largely symbolic, given the numerical strength of the NC-led coalition in the House.
The ruling alliance currently holds 53 members, while the BJP has 28, and non-BJP opposition parties collectively have seven members.
The BJP core group meeting, held in Jammu, was attended by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and BJP national general secretary and J&K in-charge Tarun Chugh.
Among the names being discussed for Rajya Sabha tickets are Sunil Sethi, former party president Ravinder Raina, and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh, though the final decision will be made by the party’s central leadership.
Sethi said the meeting focused more on the qualities required in the prospective candidates rather than specific names, and the recommendations from the J&K unit will soon be conveyed to the party high command.
