BJP names Rajya Sabha candidates; Bittu, Kurian left out, fuelling Cabinet reshuffle buzz

New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday announced its candidates for the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections and the Odisha bypoll, fielding party national general secretary Tarun Chugh from Madhya Pradesh and former Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia from Rajasthan, while leaving out Union ministers Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian.

The omission of Bittu and Kurian has fuelled speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle, particularly after ministers of state Pankaj Chaudhary and Harsh Malhotra were recently assigned organisational responsibilities.

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Bittu, a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan, and Kurian, who represents Madhya Pradesh in the Upper House, complete their current terms on June 21.

The development carries political significance ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections due early next year. With Bittu not being renominated, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri would become the lone Sikh face in the Union Cabinet after Bittu's term ends.

Kurian's exclusion is also notable as he is widely seen as the only Christian representative in the Council of Ministers.

The BJP's Central Election Committee named ex-BJD leader Debashish Samantaray as its candidate for the Odisha Rajya Sabha bypoll.

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In Gujarat, the BJP has fielded Rajubhai Shukla, Mukeshbhai Rathwa, Mansingh Parmar and Jitendra Meghjibhai Kanzariya. Rajneesh Agrawal and Tarun Chugh have been nominated from Madhya Pradesh, while Alka Gurjar and Satish Poonia will contest from Rajasthan.

The party has also named A. Sharda Devi from Manipur and Tai Tagak from Arunachal Pradesh.

Rajya Sabha elections to vacancies in 10 states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, will be held on June 18. The Odisha bypoll will also be conducted the same day.