The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Seven Union ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are approaching the end of their Rajya Sabha terms this April, and there has been a notable decision by the party not to renominate them. Speculation is rife that these ministers may be considered for candidature in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Currently, the BJP will see 28 of its MPs among the 56 legislators retiring in April. From this contingent, the party has decided to retain only four, including two Union ministers: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Minister of State for Fisheries, L. Murugan. Joining them in renomination are BJP National President J.P. Nadda and party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, with Nadda having already completed two terms in the Upper House.
Among the new nominations to the Rajya Sabha, none hold positions as BJP’s national office bearers. The list of ministers not renominated includes prominent figures such as Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Also not returning to the Upper House are Fisheries Minister Parshottam Rupala, MSME Minister Narayan Rane, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan, and Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar.
Other significant leaders like former Union minister Prakash Javadekar, former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, and BJP’s chief spokesperson Anil Baluni were also omitted from the renomination list.
The absence of these names from the Rajya Sabha renomination list has sparked discussions within BJP ranks, suggesting a strategic move to introduce these ministers as Lok Sabha election candidates. The party has not yet disclosed the constituencies where these potential candidates might be fielded.
The deadline for withdrawing nominations is set for February 20, with voting scheduled for February 27. Votes will be counted on the same day beginning at 5 pm, a process that will likely bring clarity to the political futures of these BJP leaders.