Nandal, Kanda, Gupta: BJP keeps options open for second Rajya Sabha candidate in Haryana
The BJP and Congress require 31 votes each to be elected
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Suspense continues over the second candidate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may support in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections for the two seats falling vacant in April.
While the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) candidate Gopal Kanda has been in the news from the start, BJP sources say the party is also considering two office bearers—Satish Nandal and Archana Gupta—as well as a real estate developer.
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Today is the last day for filing nominations, and a clearer picture is expected to emerge by the afternoon regarding the BJP’s choice for its second backed candidate. Meanwhile, intense lobbying by Independents and party leaders is ongoing to secure BJP support. Gopal Kanda is reported to have readied his nomination papers and is awaiting the BJP’s nod as he heads to Chandigarh.
According to party sources, the state leadership is divided between fielding an office-bearer or backing an Independent. A senior leader explained:
“If we back an Independent, it will be the candidate’s responsibility to organize his votes. Apart from lending our support after our candidate is elected, we do not get involved in how he arranges the remaining votes.”
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The final decision rests with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, sources said. The BJP appears willing to back an Independent only if there is a realistic chance of winning.
The party is also closely observing Congress’s moves, particularly after the announcement of Dalit activist Karamvir Singh Baudh as its candidate. Since Baudh is considered neutral and not aligned with any Congress faction, BJP sources believe a second candidate may have a better chance—but the number of votes required will be significantly higher than in previous elections, which involved support from just a couple of opposition votes.
Current numbers in the Haryana Assembly:
BJP: 48 MLAs
Congress: 37 MLAs
INLD: 2 MLAs
Independents: 3 MLAs
Both the BJP and Congress require 31 votes each to secure a seat in the Rajya Sabha.
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