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Congress Rajya Sabha Candidate List 2026: The Indian National Congress has officially announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for June 18, 2026. The list, approved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, includes seven candidates from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand.
The announcement has attracted significant political attention as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has been renominated from Karnataka, while party spokesperson Pawan Khera has received a Rajya Sabha ticket for the first time.
Congress Rajya Sabha Candidates 2026: Full List
| State | Candidate |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | Mallikarjun Kharge |
| Karnataka | Pawan Khera |
| Karnataka | Mansoor Ali Khan |
| Madhya Pradesh | Meenakshi Natarajan |
| Rajasthan | Neeraj Dangi |
| Tamil Nadu | Praveen Chakravarty |
| Jharkhand | Pranav Jha |
The candidate list was released by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) ahead of the biennial Rajya Sabha elections.
Key Highlights
Mallikarjun Kharge Renominated from Karnataka
Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has been renominated from Karnataka. Kharge filed his nomination in Bengaluru on June 6, accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.
Pawan Khera Gets First Rajya Sabha Nomination
Congress media department chairman Pawan Khera has been nominated from Karnataka. His selection is being viewed as a significant move by the party leadership, potentially paving the way for his parliamentary debut.
Related Article: Vetri Tamizhagam Schemes 2026: CM Vijay Unveils 436 Schemes Across Tamil Nadu in First Cabinet Meeting
Mansoor Ali Khan Named Third Karnataka Candidate
Alongside Kharge and Khera, AICC Secretary Mansoor Ali Khan has also been fielded from Karnataka, giving the state three Congress nominees.
Meenakshi Natarajan Returns to National Spotlight
Former MP Meenakshi Natarajan has been nominated from Madhya Pradesh, marking her return to a major parliamentary role.
Why the Viral Social Media List Was Misleading
Several viral social media posts claimed that Randeep Surjewala and Rajeev Shukla had been nominated from Karnataka. However, the official Congress list confirms that the Karnataka candidates are Mallikarjun Kharge, Pawan Khera, and Mansoor Ali Khan.
Therefore, the viral graphic circulating on social media does not match the officially released Congress candidate list.
Rajya Sabha Election 2026 Date
The Rajya Sabha elections for the current round of vacancies are scheduled to be held on June 18, 2026. Congress and the BJP have both announced their candidates for several states as political parties prepare for the Upper House elections.
