Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb 21: Polling for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across the country is scheduled to be held in March, including seven seats from Maharashtra. Going by the party strength in the State Assembly, the BJP is in a comfortable position to ensure the victory of four of its candidates.

In recent years, the party has adopted a strategy of springing surprises in Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. Hence, political circles are keenly watching whom the BJP will field this time.

The terms of seven sitting Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra will end on April 2, 2026. These include Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP), Fauzia Khan (NCP-SP), Rajani Patil (Congress), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena UBT), Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A), Dhairyasheel Patil (BJP) and Bhagwat Karad (BJP).

Ramdas Athawale is currently a Union Minister and represents the BJP quota in the Upper House. Being a prominent Dalit face, he is likely to be renominated. Even after accommodating him, the BJP may have the scope to nominate three more candidates.

With nearly three years remaining for the next Lok Sabha elections, the selection process may not strictly revolve around caste or regional equations. Instead, loyal party workers and leaders who have remained steadfast may be considered.

Names such as Vinod Tawde, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Sunil Deodhar are being discussed in political circles. Tawde’s ticket was cut in 2019, but he did not express dissent and continued to carry out responsibilities assigned by the party diligently. He has remained out of parliamentary politics since 2019, and this may strengthen his chances this time.

Speculation is also rife that the BJP could once again deploy its ‘shock strategy’ in candidate selection. A precedent dates back to 2015, shortly after Devendra Fadnavis became Chief Minister in 2014. A Rajya Sabha bypoll was necessitated following the demise of senior Congress leader Murli Deora.

At the time, the BJP had been in power in Maharashtra for only a few months. A late-night meeting of the State core committee was underway at the Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha bungalow, to finalise a candidate. During the meeting, a call reportedly came from Amit Shah in Delhi, directing that the name of a candidate from the Scheduled Caste community be sent by the next morning.

The instruction reportedly surprised those present. After deliberations, the name of Amar Sable, a long-time party worker from Pimpri-Chinchwad, was suggested and forwarded to the central leadership. The high command approved the proposal, and Sable was elected to the Rajya Sabha, catching many by surprise.

With this background, curiosity remains high over whether the BJP will once again spring a surprise while announcing its Rajya Sabha candidates from Maharashtra.