BJP likely to field Gaurav Vallabh for RS contest in State
Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Gaurav Vallabh could be the BJP’s Rajya Sabha candidate from Jharkhand. Reports suggest that a consensus has been reached within the BJP regarding his candidacy, and an announcement could be made at any time. It is worth noting that Vallabh was previously with the Congress party; he had contested the Assembly election from Jamshedpur East, a contest in which Saryu Roy defeated former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, while Vallabh finished third. He subsequently joined the BJP.
Born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Vallabh maintains academic ties to both Rajasthan and Jharkhand, the latter due to his professional career in Ranchi.
He holds a PhD in Finance and has taught accounting and economics at management institutes, including the Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) in Ranchi. Currently, he is a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.
The candidature off Gaurav Vallabh gains importance as BJP national president Nitin Nabin is likely to visit Jharkhand shortly. BJP National President Nitin Nabin is visiting Ranchi to discuss organizational strategies and finalize the party’s approach for the two upcoming Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand. The elections are scheduled for June 18, 2026, with the deadline for filing nominations on June 8.
He will arrive at Ranchi Airport mid-morning on June 6, where he is scheduled to join a tree planting ceremony nearby. Later that day, he will take part in a ‘Prabuddhjan Samvad’ dialogue at the party’s headquarters. The following day will be filled with interactions, particularly with youth, as well as strategic meetings.
The visit aligns with the lead-up to the upcoming elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand. These seats, one previously held by late JMM co-founder Shibu Soren and the other by BJP’s Deepak Prakash whose term ends soon, are pivotal in the political landscape.
The election is scheduled to take place on June 18. To secure victory, a candidate requires 28 first-preference votes. The ruling INDIA coalition — comprising the JMM (34), Congress (16), RJD (4), and CPI(ML) (2) — collectively commands 56 legislators, which guarantees victory for the JMM on one seat. Even the second seat should go to the INDIA bloc.
