With the ruling Congress in Karnataka set to secure three of the four Rajya Sabha seats in the biennial elections scheduled for June 18, the party high command is believed to be considering nominating a Congress leader from outside the State.
Sources in the party said three leaders from outside Karnataka — Y.S. Sharmila, Supriya Shrinate, and Pawan Khera — are lobbying with the Congress leadership for a Rajya Sabha berth from the State.
Ms. Sharmila merged her YSR Telangana Party with the Congress in January 2024, and formally joined the party in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital. She is believed to be the frontrunner among the candidates.
Notification for polls to fill four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka issued
Ms. Shrinate is currently the AICC chairperson for social media and digital communications and is a prominent party spokesperson, often seen defending the Congress in television debates. Mr. Khera has recently been in the news in connection with a case filed against him by the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Karnataka has a history of electing leaders from outside the State to the Rajya Sabha. In 2024, the Congress nominated former Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken to the Upper House. The BJP also fielded non-Karnataka leaders from the State, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Minister-designate D.K. Shivakumar are expected to finalise the party’s candidates for the Rajya Sabha during consultations with central leaders in New Delhi over the next couple of days.
Although some party leaders are said to favour sending Mr. Siddaramaiah to the Rajya Sabha, he has made it clear that he intends to remain active in State politics. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to seek re-election to the Upper House.
KPCC general secretary Basavaraju A.P. is considered a frontrunner if the party decides to nominate a candidate from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. Notably, no Congress leader from the community has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka in nearly 25 years.
Senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad's term in the Legislative Council is ending this month. While his name is also being discussed for a Rajya Sabha nomination, party sources said he is keen on securing another term in the Council and is also lobbying for a ministerial berth in the new government.
Biennial elections to seven Legislative Council seats from the Assembly electoral college will also be held on June 18. As the party is ruling in the State, sources said leaders are lobbying hard to become MLCs rather than Rajya Sabha members.
Elections would be held for seven seats. The ruling party is expected to comfortably secure four seats.
Published - June 01, 2026 07:15 pm IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
