Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: BJP Nominates Laxmi Verma

The announcement was made after approval by the party’s central election committee, according to an official statement released by National General Secretary Arun Singh.

Candidate from Chhattisgarh

Laxmi Verma, 55, has been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party since 1990. Her selection is seen by party observers as reflecting internal consultations in the state unit and at the national level.

According to party sources, several names were considered before the leadership finalised her candidature. She is currently a member of the Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission and has previously served as State Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Chhattisgarh.

Her political career began at the municipal level when she was elected as a councillor in Raipur in 1994. She later became president of the Raipur District Panchayat in 2010. Within the party organisation, she has held positions in the women’s wing and the Panchayati Raj cell, which focuses on local self-government institutions in rural areas.

In a statement accompanying the broader candidate list, the party said the selections were cleared by its central election committee for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.

Chhattisgarh electoral arithmetic

Chhattisgarh has 90 members in its legislative assembly, who form the electoral college for Rajya Sabha elections. Two seats from the state are due to fall vacant in April 2026, currently held by members of the Indian National Congress party.

Under the proportional representation system used for Rajya Sabha elections, a candidate requires a minimum number of first-preference votes to secure a seat. Based on the current strength of the assembly, at least 31 votes are needed to ensure victory.

Given the Bharatiya Janata Party’s numerical position in the state assembly, political analysts say Laxmi Verma’s election is expected to be secured once voting takes place.

National list of nominees

The party also announced candidates from several other states for the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections.

From Bihar, it nominated Nitin Nabin, a sitting member of the state legislative assembly, and Shivesh Kumar, a former legislator and retired civil servant. In Assam, Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan have been named, while Sanjay Bhatia will contest from Haryana.

In Odisha, the party has selected Manmohan Samal, the state unit president, and Sujeet Kumar. From West Bengal, Rahul Sinha has been nominated.

The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is the upper house of India’s parliament. Its members are elected indirectly by state legislators for six-year terms, with one-third of seats coming up for election every two years.

Political implications

In Chhattisgarh, the nomination of Laxmi Verma has been interpreted by some political observers as an attempt by the party to promote women’s representation and to recognise long-standing organisational work.

Her background includes involvement in local governance bodies and community organisations, as well as leadership roles within the party’s women’s wing.

At the national level, the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections are expected to be closely watched in states where party numbers are tight, particularly in Bihar, where political arithmetic could influence outcomes.

However, in Chhattisgarh, the current assembly composition suggests that the Bharatiya Janata Party is well placed to secure at least one of the two seats falling vacant next year.

With nominations now announced, attention will turn to the formal election process, scheduled in line with the retirement of outgoing members in April 2026.