Eknath Shinde Backs Dalit Candidate Jyoti Waghmare for Rajya Sabha

Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde expressed strong confidence in the party's Rajya Sabha nominee, Jyoti Waghmare, a Dalit woman from Solapur. He emphasized that her nomination reflects the party's principle of honouring dedicated workers from ordinary backgrounds. Party MP Milind Deora welcomed the move as a historic decision to send a common woman to the Upper House. The Election Commission has scheduled the biennial elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats, with polling on March 16.

Key Points: Shiv Sena Nominates Dalit Woman Jyoti Waghmare for Rajya Sabha

  • Dalit woman nominated for Rajya Sabha
  • Shinde highlights candidate's humble background
  • Party's commitment to empowering workers
  • Milind Deora calls decision historic
  • Elections scheduled for March 16
3 min read

"Shiv Sena has empowered its workers": Eknath Shinde on Jyoti Waghmare's Rajya Sabha's nomination

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde expresses confidence in Dalit candidate Jyoti Waghmare for Rajya Sabha, calling it a move to empower party workers.

"Shiv Sena has empowered its workers... a party that enhances the honour of workers. - Eknath Shinde"

Mumbai, March 5

Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday expressed confidence in the party's candidate for Rajya Sabha elections, Jyoti Waghmare, a Dalit woman, stating that the party honours its hard-working workers.

Eknath Shinde underscored Waghmare's dedication despite coming from an ordinary, poor family and asserted Shiv Sena's committment to empowering its workers. He said that Waghmare, once elected, will raise issues of the state's interest in the Upper House of the Parliament.

"Jyoti Waghmare hails from an ordinary and poor family, and in Shiv Sena, those who do good work and work for the people receive due respect. Shiv Sena has empowered its workers... Shiv Sena is the party of workers and a party that enhances the honour of workers, and therefore, Jyoti Waghmare has got this opportunity. I am confident that she will raise Maharashtra's issues in the Rajya Sabha," Shinde said.

This comes after Shiv Sena, earlier today, nominated Jyoti Waghmare, a Dalit woman from Solapur, as their candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora lauded the "historic decision" by the Deputy CM of sending "a common woman to Rajya Sabha." He expressed confidence in her ability to voice the concerns of the people of Maharashtra.

"I welcome the historic decision by party chief and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to send a common woman to the Rajya Sabha. I am proud to say that a common woman will now work as a Rajya Sabha MP. She will raise the issues of the party and raise problems of the people of Maharashtra. As a leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, I support her candidature," he said.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the upcoming biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to fill the 37 seats across 10 states, as the members are set to complete their term in April 2026, a press note stated.

According to the press note, the term of 37 members who were elected from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will conclude in the month of April, vacating the seats for new members to be elected. The notification will be issued on February 26, commencing the election process.

The last date of nominations is March 5, followed by scrutiny on March 6. The candidates can withdraw their nominations till March 9. The polling is scheduled to take place on March 16, with the counting of votes on the same day at 5 pm.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good move by Shinde Sena. Empowering grassroots workers is what politics should be about. But let's be real, this is also a strategic move for the Dalit vote bank before elections. The real test is what she achieves in Rajya Sabha.
A
Aman W
Finally, some recognition for hard work instead of just dynasty politics. Jyoti Waghmare's story is very relatable. Wishing her all the best. Jai Maharashtra!
S
Sarah B
As an observer of Indian politics, this seems like a meaningful gesture towards inclusivity. It will be interesting to see if this translates into effective policy advocacy for marginalized communities in the state.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, I have to point out something. While the nomination is welcome, calling it a "historic decision" by Milind Deora feels like an overstatement. Many parties have fielded candidates from humble backgrounds before. The credit should go to her merit, not just the party's benevolence.
K
Kavya N
Hope she focuses on real issues facing Maharashtra - farmers' distress, unemployment, and infrastructure in rural areas. Solapur needs a strong voice. All the best to her! 🙏

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50