BJP's Ravneet Singh Bittu Advances in Rajasthan Rajya Sabha Bypolls

The nomination papers of BJP candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu and another candidate for Rajasthan's Rajya Sabha bypolls were accepted after scrutiny. One independent candidate's papers were rejected. Bittu is expected to secure the seat given BJP's majority. Congress chose not to field a candidate.

The nomination papers of two candidates, including BJP's Ravneet Singh Bittu, for the Rajya Sabha bypolls in Rajasthan have been accepted following scrutiny, while one candidate's papers were rejected on Thursday.

All three sets of nomination papers were scrutinized in the Vidhan Sabha. The papers of BJP candidate and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, along with those of Sunil Kothari (dummy candidate for BJP), were found to be correct. However, the papers of independent candidate Babita Wadhwani were rejected, as per an assembly spokesperson's statement.

The scrutiny was conducted by Returning Officer Mahavir Prasad Sharma and Assistant Returning Officer Sanjeev Kumar Sharma under the supervision of Observer and Chief Election Officer Naveen Mahajan. The process was videographed as instructed by the Election Commission.

Candidates can withdraw their nominations until 3 pm on August 27. The seat became vacant after KC Venugopal of the Congress resigned following his election to the Lok Sabha. With the BJP's majority in the state assembly, Bittu is expected to win the seat. The Congress has chosen not to field a candidate in this by-election.

There are ten Rajya Sabha seats in Rajasthan, with one currently vacant. Out of the nine filled seats, the BJP holds four while the Congress controls five.

(With inputs from agencies.)