The BJP has named A. Sharda Devi as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha election from Manipur, where polling is scheduled for June 18.
Imphal, June 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday announced A. Sharda Devi as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from Manipur. The announcement was made by the party's Central Election Committee as part of its list of candidates for the 2026 Rajya Sabha biennial elections across several states and a by-election in Odisha.
The Election Commission of India has scheduled polling for the Rajya Sabha elections on June 18. The election in Manipur is being held to fill the seat currently represented by Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, whose term is set to expire on June 21.
The notification for the election was issued on June 1. The last date for filing nominations is June 8, scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on June 9, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until June 11. Counting of votes will take place on June 18 after polling concludes.
Manipur has one Rajya Sabha seat falling vacant in the current round of biennial elections. The state is among ten states where elections are being conducted for seats whose incumbents are retiring between June and July this year.
Alongside Manipur, the BJP announced candidates for Rajya Sabha seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The party also named its nominee for the Rajya Sabha by-election in Odisha.
The BJP candidates announced for the biennial elections are:
Arunachal Pradesh
Tai Tagak
Gujarat
Rajubhai Shukla
Mukeshbhai Rathwa
Mansingh Parmar
Jitendra Meghjibhai Kanzariya
Madhya Pradesh
Tarun Chugh
Rajneesh Agrawal
Manipur
A. Sharda Devi
Rajasthan
Alka Gurjar
Satish Poonia
Odisha
Debashish Samantaray
The announcement comes as political parties begin the nomination process ahead of the June 18 election, which will determine representation from Manipur in the Upper House of Parliament for the next term.
