RajyaSabhaElection – Kharge Set for Second Karnataka Term Without Contest
RajyaSabhaElection – Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is poised to secure another term in the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka after no electoral contest emerged for the available seats.
The president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Mallikarjun Kharge, is expected to return to the Rajya Sabha for a second consecutive term from Karnataka. Alongside him, Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera, veteran Congress leader Mansoor Ali Khan, and BJP nominee Prof M Nagaraja are also likely to enter the Upper House without facing an election.
Four Candidates Left in the Race
The development comes after the scrutiny process for nominations to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka concluded. A total of five candidates had initially submitted their nomination papers. However, independent aspirant Bhojanna Somaiya was removed from contention after election officials rejected his nomination due to the absence of a valid proposer’s signature.
With only four eligible candidates remaining for four available seats, the election has effectively become uncontested. As a result, all four candidates are set to be declared elected without the need for voting.
Kharge Continues Parliamentary Role
Kharge’s return to the Rajya Sabha carries significance for the Congress party, as it allows him to continue serving as the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House. He first entered the Rajya Sabha in 2020 after losing the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Kalaburagi constituency in Karnataka.
Over the course of his political career, Kharge has built an extensive record in public life. He has been elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly nine times and has held several key positions at both the state and national levels. During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, he served as Union Minister for Railways and also managed the Labour Ministry, among other responsibilities.
Congress and BJP Secure Representation
The uncontested outcome reflects the current arithmetic in Karnataka’s political landscape. Congress has successfully positioned three candidates for the Upper House, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has secured one seat through the candidature of Prof M Nagaraja.
Pawan Khera’s likely entry into the Rajya Sabha is notable given his prominent role as the party’s spokesperson and head of its media and publicity operations. Mansoor Ali Khan, another senior Congress figure, is also expected to join the Upper House as part of the party’s representation from the state.
Formal Declaration Awaited
Monday marked the final deadline for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha vacancies. Following the scrutiny process on Tuesday, no further challenges remained after the rejection of the independent candidate’s papers.
Election authorities are now expected to complete the remaining procedural requirements. The official announcement confirming the election of all four candidates will be made after June 11, which is the final date for withdrawal of nominations.
With no contest left in the field, Karnataka’s four Rajya Sabha seats are set to be filled through an uncontested process, ensuring continued representation for both Congress and the BJP in the Upper House of Parliament