Laxmi Verma, Phulo Devi Netam file nominations for Chhattisgarh Rajya Sabha polls

Raipur

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Laxmi Verma and Indian National Congress nominee Phulo Devi Netam filed their nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

Laxmi Verma, who has been active in politics for 30 years, said after filing her papers that she plans to strongly raise women’s issues in the Upper House. The Bharatiya Janata Party leadership selected Verma from a panel of potential candidates that included Narayan Chandel and Krishnamurti Bandhi. Observers said the decision reflects the party’s focus on increasing women’s representation within its organisational structure.

Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress has renominated Phulo Devi Netam, who currently serves as the state president of the Mahila Congress. Although the names of senior leaders such as Deepak Baij, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and T. S. Singh Deo were also under consideration, the party high command decided to retain Netam. She thanked the leadership for giving her the opportunity to serve another term.

Election schedule and process

The Election Commission of India has announced the following schedule for the polls:

• 6 March: Scrutiny of nomination papers
• 9 March: Last date for withdrawal of candidature
• 16 March: Voting from 9 am to 4 pm, followed by counting at 5 pm
• 20 March: Completion of the entire election process

In the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly, a candidate requires 31 first-preference votes to win a seat. The figure is calculated by dividing the total number of MLAs by the number of vacant seats plus one, and then adding one to the quotient.

Current Rajya Sabha representation

Chhattisgarh currently has five members in the Rajya Sabha. The terms of Phulo Devi Netam and K. T. S. Tulsi will end on 9 April 2026.

Other members include Rajiv Shukla and Ranjeet Ranjan from the Indian National Congress, whose terms continue until 29 June 2028, and Devendra Pratap Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose term ends on 2 April 2030.

Before filing her nomination, Vishnu Deo Sai and other senior BJP leaders met Laxmi Verma and extended their wishes. Similarly, Phulo Devi Netam visited the residence of Charandas Mahant before proceeding to the assembly to file her nomination papers.