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Dhanraj Nathwani Emerges as SP’s Surprise Rajya Sabha Pick
The Samajwadi Party chose Dhanraj Nathwani to compete for a seat in India’s Rajya Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha is one of India’s two Houses of Parliament.
Nathwani works as a senior executive at Reliance Industries.
He also leads the Gujarat Cricket Association.
He thanked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for selecting him.
Nathwani filed his nomination papers in Lucknow.
Elections will be held on October 16 for 11 seats.
The BJP-led alliance is expected to win most of the Uttar Pradesh seats, while the Samajwadi Party and Congress are expected to win two.
The Samajwadi Party nominated Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani and Ram Gopal Yadav for two Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh.
Nathwani filed his nomination in Lucknow on Wednesday, September 30, thanking Akhilesh Yadav for his confidence.
Nathwani is a senior Reliance Industries executive, Group President, and director of two Reliance subsidiaries.
He is also president of the Gujarat Cricket Association and oversees responsibilities involving manufacturing, new energy, infrastructure, and Reliance Jio in Gujarat.
Polling for 11 Rajya Sabha seats—10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand—is scheduled for October 16, with counting the same day.
- Who
- The Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, and Ram Gopal Yadav are central to the announcement.
- What
- The Samajwadi Party nominated Dhanraj Nathwani and Ram Gopal Yadav for the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections.
- Where
- Nathwani filed his nomination papers in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- Nominations were filed on September 30; polling and vote counting are scheduled for October 16, before the sitting members’ terms expire on November 25.
- Why
- The elections are being held because the terms of nine Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha members are expiring and a tenth seat became vacant after Dinesh Sharma resigned.
Key facts
- Samajwadi Party candidates
- Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani and Ram Gopal Yadav
- Polling date
- October 16, from 9 AM to 4 PM
- Seats being contested
- 11 Rajya Sabha seats: 10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand
- Expected seat distribution
- The BJP-led alliance is projected to win eight Uttar Pradesh seats; the Samajwadi Party, with Congress support, can secure two.
- Nathwani’s Reliance role
- Group President of Reliance Industries and director at Reliance New Energy and Reliance Projects & Property Management Services
- Additional leadership role
- President of the Gujarat Cricket Association
- Terms expiring
- The terms of the sitting members are scheduled to expire on November 25.
Quotes
Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani
Reliance Industries executive and Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha candidate
“Today, in Lucknow, in the presence of the Honourable Akhilesh Yadav Ji, I filed my nomination for Rajya Sabha as I step into this new phase of public life. I offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your affection, trust, and best wishes”
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“I express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the Honourable National President Shri Akhilesh Yadav Ji for nominating me as the Samajwadi Party candidate for Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.”
livemint.com
Sources
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