Congress Renominates Neeraj Dangi for Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan

Jaipur: The Congress Thursday announced the renomination of outgoing Rajya Sabha MP Neeraj Dangi as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Rajasthan, giving him a second consecutive term in the Upper House.

The Congress high command’s decision to field Dangi again is being viewed as an effort to strengthen its traditional Dalit support base while also maintaining internal political balance within the party.

Dangi is considered a close associate of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Party sources also suggest that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge supported Dangi’s candidature for a second consecutive term.

Elections for three Rajya Sabha seats from the state are scheduled to be held on June 18, with counting set to take place on the same day. The terms of Congress MP Neeraj Dangi and BJP leaders Rajendra Gehlot and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu will end on June 21.

Based on the current strength of political parties in the 200-member Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, the BJP is expected to secure two seats, while the Congress is likely to win one. A candidate requires 51 votes to be elected to the Rajya Sabha, and the existing numerical strength in the Assembly favours the BJP winning only two of the three seats.