Politics
SP names Reliance executive Nathwani for Rajya Sabha polls
The Indian Express··2 Oct
The Samajwadi Party nominated corporate executive Dhanraj Nathwani for an upcoming Rajya Sabha election as it builds its 2027 Uttar Pradesh campaign around the PDA plank. Nathwani, 40, has worked with Reliance Industries for about 16 years. The SP and Congress together have 102 MLAs, enough to elect two MPs when 37 first-preference votes are required.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Uttar Pradesh voters may see a third Opposition Rajya Sabha candidate if the SP and Congress close a nine-vote gap.
- Corporate figures watching the contest may read Nathwani's nomination as a signal about the SP's 2027 outreach.
- BJP legislators weighing cross-voting face a contest where Opposition leaders say some may support their candidates.
What's Happening
- Nathwani oversees Reliance's Jamnagar manufacturing division and leads engineering, procurement and construction projects.
- The SP has also announced veteran Ram Gopal Yadav as a candidate alongside Nathwani.
- Party leaders said Nathwani's selection aligns with socialist ideology citing prosperity and equality together.
The Upper House Math
- Each Rajya Sabha seat from Uttar Pradesh needs 37 first-preference votes from the state assembly.
- Parimal Nathwani, Dhanraj's father, won a fourth consecutive Rajya Sabha term from Jharkhand in June.
- Businessman Sanjay Seth won on an SP ticket in 2016 before joining the BJP in 2019.
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