Ashwini Vaishnaw has been nominated as Bharatiya Janata Party’s Odisha Rajya Sabha candidate.

On Wednesday, federal minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Madhya Pradesh lawmaker L. Murugan nominated representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Rajya Sabha from Odisha. The upcoming replacement of 56 retiring members on February 27 has intensified the political landscape. The deadline for nominations is February 15.

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Vaishnaw, potentially backed by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, aims for a smooth re-election. The BJD previously supported Vaishnaw in 2019 for “the larger interest of the state’s Railways and Telecom Development.” Odisha currently faces a deficit in the Rajya Sabha, with three vacant seats.

With only 22 BJP members in Odisha’s legislature, securing 37 votes is essential for Rajya Sabha election. The BJD’s support becomes crucial for Vaishnaw’s candidacy.

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, three additional BJP candidates have been nominated, along with Murugan. With five vacant Rajya Sabha seats, one might go to the Congress, and four are likely to be secured by the BJP.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, originally from Rajasthan, retired from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in Odisha in 2010. His term as the Rajya Sabha member from Odisha will conclude in April. Despite being elected as a BJD candidate in 2019, Vaishnaw received support from both the BJP and BJD, indicating a cooperative alliance.

The BJP and BJD’s historical collaboration suggests continued accord on various matters. The BJD, over the last five years, has supported most federal BJP initiatives. The parties’ support for Vaishnaw in 2019 further solidifies their cooperation. The BJP’s Murugan, currently Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, is among five nominees from Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP is positioned to secure four out of five vacant seats.

In this intricate political scenario, the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections hold significance, not only for individual candidates but also for the broader dynamics between political parties in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.

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