BJP Rajya Sabha Candidates for 2026: 9 Names Announced Including Assam’s Jogen Mohan & Terash Gowalla
BJP Announces 9 Rajya Sabha Candidates for 2026: Jogen Mohan and Terash Gowalla from Assam, Nitin Nabin Leads Bihar List
Guwahati, March 3, 2026 — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its first list of Rajya Sabha Candidates for 2026, nominating nine leaders across six states for the biennial elections to the Upper House. Polling for these seats is scheduled for March 16, 2026.
From Assam, the party has fielded two prominent figures: Cabinet Minister Jogen Mohan (sitting MLA from Mahmara) and MLA Terash Gowalla (sitting MLA from Duliajan). Jogen Mohan holds key portfolios including Public Works (Roads & Buildings), Hills Areas Development, Cooperation, and Indigenous & Tribal Faith and Culture in the Himanta Biswa Sarma government.
This nomination signals a major strategic shift in Assam politics. With both leaders likely to move to the Rajya Sabha (assuming victory in uncontested or elected polls), the BJP is expected to introduce fresh candidates in the Duliajan and Mahmara Assembly constituencies during the critical 2026 Assam Assembly elections.
Assam has three Rajya Sabha seats retiring in this cycle, and the party has declared candidates for two so far. The third seat’s nominee is yet to be officially announced, though state-level nomination processes are complete.
Full List of BJP’s Rajya Sabha Candidates for 2026 (First List)
- Assam: Jogen Mohan, Terash Gowalla
- Bihar: Nitin Nabin (BJP National President), Shivesh Kumar
- Chhattisgarh: Laxmi Verma (State Vice-President)
- Haryana: Sanjay Bhatia (former Lok Sabha MP from Karnal)
- Odisha: Sujeet Kumar, Manmohan Samal
- West Bengal: Rahul Sinha (former State President, 2012–2015)
The announcement, cleared by the BJP’s Central Election Committee, highlights a mix of senior leaders, state presidents, and performers being rewarded with Upper House berths.
Key Highlights and Political Implications
- Nitin Nabin’s nomination from Bihar marks a significant move for the newly appointed national president, reinforcing the party’s generational shift.
- In Assam, the decision to send sitting MLAs/ministers to Rajya Sabha is viewed by analysts as a tactical refresh ahead of the 2026 state polls, allowing the BJP to balance experience in Parliament while injecting new energy at the Assembly level.
- The biennial polls will fill 37 seats across multiple states, with Assam, Bihar, and others seeing key retirements.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and party leaders have welcomed the selections, expressing confidence that these Rajya Sabha Candidates for 2026 will effectively champion regional and national interests in Parliament.
This development sets the stage for intense political activity in the coming weeks as more nominations are expected for remaining seats. Stay updated with us for live coverage, analysis, and exclusive insights on the Rajya Sabha elections 2026 and their ripple effects on Assam’s 2026 Assembly battle.
