BJP nominates Suresh Prabhu to Rajya Sabha from Haryana

BJP's absolute majority in Haryana Assembly polls will see Prabhu and Birender Singh nominated unopposed

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will nominate union ministers Birender Singh and Suresh Prabhu as its candidates for elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana. Singh and Prabhu were inducted in the Narendra Modi-led cabinet in the cabinet expansion earlier this month. With BJP getting absolute majority in Haryana Assembly in recent elections, it is assured of getting both the seats unopposed, helping further raise the party's strength in the Upper House where it does not enjoy a majority. BJP at present has 43 seats in Rajya Sabha.

Birender Singh was earlier a Rajya Sabha member of Congress from Haryana but quit his seat to join BJP ahead of assembly elections in Haryana. "The Central Election Committee has decided to nominate the names of Chaudhary Birender Singh and Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu for the bye­election to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of Haryana," Secretary of BJP's Central Election Committee and national general secretary J P Nadda said.

The seats had fallen vacant after Birender Singh resigned from his seat on August 28 and Ranbir Singh Parjapati of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) quit on November 1. The terms of the two Ministers will be till August 1, 2016.

The Election Commission has already notified the bye-election to the Council of States from Haryana. As per the schedule, the last date for filing of nominations is November 25 and polling, if required, will be held on December 5 and the results declared on the same day.