The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Rajasthan, nominating former state party president Satish Poonia and national secretary Alka Gurjar. The elections will fill three seats from the state, with voting and counting scheduled for June 18.
Candidates and Political Context
Satish Poonia, currently serving as the BJP's Haryana in-charge, and Alka Gurjar, the party's national secretary and Delhi co-in-charge, have been fielded for the biennial elections. The terms of outgoing members Neeraj Dangi (Congress), Rajendra Gehlot (BJP), and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu (BJP) are set to expire on June 21, 2026.
Speculation Over Ravneet Singh Bittu
There was considerable speculation that Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu might be renominated from Rajasthan. However, the BJP chose not to repeat him, a move linked to the political significance of Punjab, where Assembly elections are due next year and where his political role is expected to be more crucial.
Electoral Arithmetic
Based on the current strength of parties in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, the BJP is expected to win two seats while the Congress is likely to secure one. A candidate requires 51 votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat, and the existing arithmetic favours the BJP winning only two of the three seats.
Strategic Community Outreach
Observers view the BJP's choice of candidates as a strategic move aimed at consolidating two influential communities in Rajasthan. While Poonia is seen as a prominent Jat face, Alka Gurjar's candidature is expected to strengthen the party's outreach among Gurjar voters. The decision to field a woman candidate is also being interpreted as an attempt to underscore the party's support for women's representation, following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The bill proposed reservation for women in legislatures and an increase in the strength of the House to 850 members.
Candidate Profiles
Satish Poonia
Poonia currently serves as the BJP's Haryana in-charge and has held several important organisational responsibilities within the party. A former state BJP president, he was assigned key responsibilities outside Rajasthan after losing the Assembly elections. Following his role in the Bihar elections, he was entrusted with the charge of Haryana, where the BJP returned to power in the Assembly polls.
Alka Gurjar
Gurjar, who is presently the BJP national secretary and Delhi co-in-charge, has also been associated with the organisation for a long time. She had previously served as an MLA, spokesperson, and vice-president of the BJP in Rajasthan. Her family has had longstanding ties with the BJP. Her husband, Nathu Singh Gurjar, served as a minister in a BJP government and has held several senior positions within the party organisation.
