Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: BJP Announces 4 Rajya Sabha Candidates From Maharashtra
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unveiled its lineup of four contenders for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra on Wednesday, spotlighting Union Minister Ramdas Athawale alongside party stalwarts Vinod Tawde, Maya Chintaman Ivnate, and Ramrao Wadkute. This move targets one of the seven seats in the state whose incumbents’ terms conclude in April.
The announcement builds on Tuesday’s revelation that Vinod Tawde, the BJP’s National General Secretary and overseer for Bihar operations, would seek election from Maharashtra. Tawde’s candidacy underscores the party’s strategic maneuvering in the upper house.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis greeted all of the four candidates by sharing X post. He said, ” Congratulations to Dr. Ramdas Athawale ji, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde ji, Mayatai Ivnate, and Ramrao Wadkute ji on being nominated for Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra. Wishing you all the success!”
🪷 Congratulations to Dr. Ramdas Athawale ji, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde ji, Mayatai Ivnate, and Ramrao Wadkute ji on being nominated for Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra.
Wishing you all the success!
🪷 महाराष्ट्रातून राज्यसभा निवडणुकीसाठी डॉ. रामदास… pic.twitter.com/sYiVtAKy3t— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) March 4, 2026
In a broader sweep, the BJP has now endorsed a total of nine nominees across multiple states for the polls. Bihar’s slots go to National President Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar. Assam features Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan, while Chhattisgarh’s pick is Laxmi Verma. Sanjay Bhatia represents Haryana, and Odisha’s duo comprises state unit chief Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar.
The elections are slated for March 16, setting the stage for pivotal shifts in parliamentary composition.
Separately, the BJP on Tuesday confirmed Sanjay Bhatia, a former Member of Parliament from Karnal, as its Haryana candidate. At 58, Bhatia is viewed as a close ally of Union Minister and ex-Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Bhatia expressed profound gratitude to the party brass for selecting an “ordinary worker” like himself, a sentiment he previously voiced during his 2019 Lok Sabha bid from Karnal.
With the BJP commanding a majority in Haryana’s 90-member assembly, Bhatia’s path to the Rajya Sabha appears assured, bolstering the party’s footprint in the chamber.
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