Rajya Sabha election: J P Nadda files nomination from HP

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh): Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda on Thursday filed his nomination papers as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh.

Nadda is seeking re-nomination to the Upper House from his home state.

There will be 59 vacancies in the Rajya Sabha in April, including 17 from the BJP and 12 from the Congress party. Three nominated members - actor Rekha, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and social worker Anu Aga - will also retire then.

Out of the BJP's 17 Rajya Sabha members, eight are union ministers.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will contest from Uttar Pradesh and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Bihar.

The BJP will field Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot from Madhya Pradesh for another Rajya Sabha term.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar will reportedly contest from Maharashtra.

Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh L. Mandaviya and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala will contest election from Gujarat.

Parliamentarian Bhupender Yadav will also be seeking re-nomination from the Rajasthan seat.