New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Monday.
Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar announced his nomination from Gandhinagar by sharing a picture and seeking the blessings of the people of Gujarat.
“It has been a real honour representing Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our motherland. Today, I submit my nomination and seek the blessings of Gujarat once more,” EAM Jaishankar tweeted.
It has been a real honour representing Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our motherland.
Today, I submit my nomination and seek the blessings of Gujarat once more.
राज्यसभा में गुजरात का प्रतिनिधित्व करना वास्तव में सम्मान की बात है। अपनी… pic.twitter.com/7dg4zkVjDx
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 10, 2023
This is the second time, Jaishankar is filing his nomination as a BJP candidate from Gujarat. In 2019, Jaishankar was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. During the election, the Union Minister secured 104 votes, while his Congress rival Gaurav Pandya received 70 votes. Jaishankar is the first BJP candidate to file his nomination but, BJP is yet to declare the names of the remaining two candidates.
The Election Commission has announced that a total of 10 members from Goa, Gujarat, and West Bengal are due to retire from their positions in the Rajya Sabha during the months of July and August. Among the notable members whose seats will be vacated are Derek O’Brien from West Bengal and S. Jaishankar from Gujarat.
The Election Commission has set July 13 as deadline for submitting nominations for vacant Rajya Sabha seats. The counting of votes will take place on July 24.
In Gujarat, three Rajya Sabha seats will be up for election on August 18 due to the retirement of Dineshchandra Jemalbhai Anavadiya, Lokhandwala Jugalsinh Mathurji, and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Krishnaswamy. Similarly, in West Bengal, six Rajya Sabha seats will be up for election as Derek O’Brien, Dola Sen, Pradip Bhattacharya, Sushmita Dev, Shanta Chhetri, and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray retire on the same date.
Notably, a single Rajya Sabha seat from Goa is up for election as Vinay D. Tendulkar is scheduled to retire on July 28.