Published Jun 08, 2026 | 8:35 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 08, 2026 | 8:35 AM
A BJP poll rally.
Synopsis: The BJP announced its candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, and for the Legislative Council in Karnataka. The elections will be held on 18 June.
The BJP on Sunday, 7 June, announced its candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, and for the Legislative Council in Karnataka.
The party has nominated Professor (Dr) M Nagaraja to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka and Mahesh Kewat from Madhya Pradesh. For the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, the BJP has fielded Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya.
Elections to four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka, set to fall vacant, will be held on 18 June. The terms of Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress), Narayana Koragappa (BJP), Iranna Kadadi (BJP), and HD Deve Gowda (JD(S)) end on 25 June.
With the Congress having a majority in the Assembly, it is slated to win three seats while leaving one to the Opposition.
Earlier, the Congress had nominated All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, Mansoor Ali Khan and Pawan Khera to the Rajya Sabha.
Also Read: Congress picks Mallikarjun Kharge, Mansoor Ali Khan, Pawan Khera for Rajya Sabha from Karnataka
In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP had earlier nominated Tarun Chug and Rajneesh Agrawal, while Meenakshi Natarajan, a former Lok Sabha MP, was chosen by the Congress.
According to the Assembly strength, the BJP can win two seats and the Congress one. However, the saffron party has now forced a contest by nominating Kewat. Reports noted that the BJP is planning to capitalise on possible cross-voting from the Congress camp owing to Natarajan’s candidacy.
The Legislative Council elections in Karnataka are being conducted as the terms of seven MLCs are due to expire on 30 June.
The members include Congress leaders Govinda Raju, Naseer Ahmed, Tippannappa, and BK Hariprasad, as well as BJP leaders N Nagaraju (MTB), Prathap Simha Nayak K, and Sunil Vallyapur.
