The Indian National Congress on Thursday announced its list of candidates for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16, with senior leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi and tribal leader Phulo Devi Netam among those renominated to contest the Upper House polls.
Singhvi, a seasoned parliamentarian and senior party spokesperson, will once again be the Congress nominee from Telangana. He has served multiple terms in the Rajya Sabha and is widely expected to secure another tenure given the party’s strength in the state assembly and support from allies.
Netam, a prominent tribal leader from Chhattisgarh, has been renominated by the party to reclaim a seat from her state. The Congress announced her renomination as an incumbent Rajya Sabha MP, marking her second consecutive term bid in the upper chamber. Netam’s selection underscores the party’s focus on tribal representation and continuity in leadership ahead of the vote.
In addition to Singhvi and Netam, the Congress named four other candidates across different states. These include Karamvir Singh Boudh from Haryana, Anurag Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, M Christopher Tilak from Tamil Nadu, and Vem Narender Reddy, who is also contesting from Telangana. The diverse list reflects the party’s attempt to balance regional representation and strengthen its presence in the Rajya Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha elections will fill 37 seats across ten states, including Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Members whose terms are ending in April will be replaced through this biennial election process.
Netam’s renomination has also drawn reactions from senior party leaders, with Congress leader Sachin Pilot extending his congratulations and expressing confidence that she will uphold the party’s values and contribute to important debates in Parliament.
The Congress leadership’s announcement comes as the party seeks to retain its strength in the Rajya Sabha and ensure experienced legislators continue to represent its positions on key national issues. The final phase of nominations concludes on March 5, followed by scrutiny and, if needed, withdrawals before the March 16 polling date.
