Bengaluru, June 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Prof. (Dr.) M. Nagaraja, a state vice-president and party leader from Karnataka, as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from the state.

The announcement was made ahead of the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections, for which four seats from Karnataka are scheduled to go to polls.

The decision means that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, whose current Rajya Sabha term is set to conclude on June 25, has not been included among the NDA’s candidates for the election.

According to political observers, the BJP has sufficient strength in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly to secure one Rajya Sabha seat, while the Congress is expected to remain a strong contender for the remaining seats.

Prior to the announcement, there had been speculation in political circles regarding the possibility of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) supporting H.D. Deve Gowda for another term in the Upper House. However, the BJP ultimately chose to field M. Nagaraja.

Following the announcement, leaders from various political parties reacted to the development. Congress leaders criticized the decision, while BJP leaders described Nagaraja as a long-serving party worker who has contributed to the organisation over the years.

The Janata Dal (Secular) has not issued any detailed statement regarding the nomination announcement. The BJP and JD(S) continue to remain alliance partners in Karnataka politics.

The Rajya Sabha elections are scheduled for June 18, with nomination-related formalities being completed in accordance with the Election Commission’s timetable.

Political analysts believe the outcome of the elections will provide further insight into the evolving political dynamics within Karnataka and among NDA allies in the state.