Congress names Abhishek Manu Singhvi as its candidate for Rajya Sabha bypoll in Telangana
The Election Commission had announced last week that elections to 12 Rajya Sabha seats in nine states will be held on September 3.
The Congress party has nominated Abhishek Manu Singhvi as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll in Telangana.
“The Congress President, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, has approved the candidature of Abhishek Manu Singhvi as Congress candidate to contest the ensuing bye-election to the Council of States from Telangana,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in a release.
Earlier this year, the party had fielded Singhvi from Himachal Pradesh but a cross-voting by some disgruntled Congress MLAs saw the senior advocate losing the election to BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan.
The Congress had a strength of 40 members and the support of three Independents in the 68-member Himachal Assembly. However, both the candidates polled 34 votes each as six Congress rebels and three Independents voted in favour of the BJP candidate. The winner was announced by a draw of lots.
Read: Abhishek Manu Singhvi challenges Rajya Sabha poll process after loss in Himachal high court
The Rajya Sabha bypoll in Telangana has been necessitated due to the resignation of K Keshava Rao from the upper house. Rao quit the Congress party in 2013 and joined the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now Bharath Rashtra Samithi).
However, the veteran leader returned to the grand old party in July, months after Congress's sweeping victory in Telangana, and resigned from Rajya Sabha.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) last week announced bypolls for 12 Rajya Sabha seats in nine states.
Of the 12 seats, 10 fell vacant after the members were elected to Lok Sabha in the 2024 general elections. These include Piyush Goyal, Sarbananda Sonowal, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Deepender Hooda, Biplab Deb, KC Venugopal, and Misa Bharti among others.
The last date for filing nominations is on August 21 and the elections, if required, will be held on September 3.
Singhvi is likely to win the bypoll this time and enter the Upper House with the Congress having a majority in Telangana.