NCP picks Rajendra Jain over Bhujbal as Mahayuti candidate for RS bypoll

Pune: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday named Rajendra Jain, a former MLC from Bhandara-Gondia local authorities constituency, as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha bypoll necessitated by the resignation of party chief Sunetra Pawar.

State NCP president Sunil Tatkare made the announcement after a meeting of the party’s core committee in Mumbai attended by senior leaders, including Prafulla Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil.

“The party has been considering giving representation to Vidarbha for a long time. The core committee unanimously finalised Rajendra Jain’s name. He will not only be the NCP candidate but also the Mahayuti candidate for the Rajya Sabha bypoll,” Tatkare said.

The announcement came amid speculation over the possible nomination of senior NCP leader and cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal to the seat. The party leaders maintained that there was no discontent over the decision and that the NCP remained united.

On whether Bhujbal was unhappy, Tatkare pointed to the senior leader’s presence beside him during the media interaction. “Bhujbal is standing with me as I speak. He is a leader who never hesitates to express his views. His presence here shows that we are united,” Tatkare said.

He said Bhujbal is among the tallest leaders and his seniority in the party would be respected. “He has been associated with the party since its formation in 1999 and has worked as state president. He was among the key leaders who stood with Ajit Pawar when the party took a different political course. The party will move ahead under his guidance,” Tatkare added.

Jain, a two-time MLC from Bhandara-Gondia, thanked the party leadership for reposing faith in him. “I have been associated with the party since its foundation and have been loyal. With the blessings of Ajit Pawar, I was twice elected to the legislative council. This nomination is a recognition of my loyalty and work,” he told reporters in Mumbai. He has been the president of Gondia District Central Cooperative Bank for 19 years.

Two-Year Term For Loyalist

Jain described Bhujbal as a father figure and said his candidature had the support of all senior leaders. As the Mahayuti alliance enjoys a clear majority in the electoral college, Jain is expected to be elected unopposed or with little difficulty.

He will serve the remaining two years of the term left vacant after Sunetra Pawar resigned from Rajya Sabha following her election as MLA from Baramati earlier this year. Sunetra Pawar was elected to the Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant after Prafulla Patel resigned and successfully contested from another seat to secure a fresh six-year term.

If elected, Jain will become the second NCP Rajya Sabha member from Vidarbha after Patel. Party sources said Jain is considered a close aide and long-time supporter of Patel.

The party’s decision to nominate Jain came as a surprise to many within the political circles, as his name had not figured prominently in discussions around potential Rajya Sabha candidates.

Sources said that, much like the recent announcement of the party’s candidate for the Pune MLC election, the Rajya Sabha nomination was largely unexpected.