Agency(New Delhi): In a significant political development, 68 members of India’s Rajya Sabha, encompassing nine Union ministers, are set to conclude their terms this year. This situation has sparked a fervent contest among various political party leaders, each vying for a coveted six-year tenure in Parliament’s Upper House.
The impending vacancies include three from Delhi, where AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Narain Dass Gupta, and Sushil Kumar Gupta are due to retire on January 27. Additionally, a solitary seat in Sikkim will open up following the retirement of SDF member Hishey Lachungpa on February 23.
In April, a more considerable wave of retirements will occur, affecting 57 leaders. This group includes notable figures such as Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Health Minister Mansukh Madaviya, and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Uttar Pradesh will experience the highest turnover, with ten seats becoming available. Following closely are Maharashtra and Bihar with six vacancies each, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal with five, Karnataka and Gujarat with four, and several other states with fewer.
This year will also see the retirement of four nominated members in July. BJP president J P Nadda, seeking renomination from Himachal Pradesh, faces the challenge of finding a seat outside his home state due to the Congress party’s dominance there. Similarly, the Congress party anticipates leveraging its power in Karnataka and Telangana, where it won recent elections, to nominate its members to the Rajya Sabha.
The list of retiring members is illustrious, featuring names like Manmohan Singh, Bhupendra Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and several other prominent leaders from various parties and states.
The Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra are particularly anticipated due to the recent political shifts in the state, affecting the NCP and Shiv Sena. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and other states, the retirements of key members like Dharmendra Pradhan, Manoj Kumar Jha, and others mark a significant reshaping of the Upper House’s composition.
Overall, these retirements present an opportunity for political parties to reinforce their presence in the Rajya Sabha, influencing the balance of power in the Upper House of India’s Parliament.
