Reliance executive, Gujarat connections: Samajwadi Party sparks intrigue after Dhanraj Nathwani picked for Rajya Sabha polls

The sudden entry of Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, a corporate executive with Gujarat connections, as a Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate has spiced up the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The SP on Wednesday formally named Ram Gopal Yadav and Nathwani, indicating that it could field a third candidate as well. Nathwani’s candidature has already triggered considerable curiosity in political circles because of his corporate profile, Gujarat connections and sports links.

Also read: Samajwadi Party fields Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as second Rajya Sabha nominee alongside Ram Gopal Yadav

Nathwani emerges as SP’s surprise Rajya Sabha pick

Nathwani, a senior corporate executive associated with Reliance Industries, was a surprise choice for a party when the names doing the rounds included former chief secretary Alok Ranjan and former Union minister Salim Iqbal Sherwani, besides five-term Rajya Sabha member Ram Gopal Yadav.

Besides his corporate role, Nathwani is president of the Gujarat Cricket Association, a position he took over after Union home minister Amit Shah. His father, Parimal Nathwani, is a BJP-backed Rajya Sabha member from Jharkhand.

His entry has fuelled speculation within political circles about the strategy behind SP’s choice.

Also read: Ram Gopal Yadav set for 6th Rajya Sabha term; SP mulls 2 more nominees

BJP leader links choice to wider political strategy

“With the state heading into a high-stakes assembly battle, the choice of a corporate figure with extensive business and institutional networks, could potentially help the SP widen its access to resources,” a BJP leader said.

A candidate requires 37 first-preference votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat. The broader BJP-supporting bloc has 294 votes (MLAs). Going by the arithmetic, BJP is positioned to win seven seats comfortably, while the eighth requires two additional votes beyond 294. This, experts believe, makes cross-voting or additional support inevitable.

The last date for filing nominations is October 6. Scrutiny is on October 7 and candidates can withdraw till October 9. If more than 10 candidates remain in the fray after withdrawal, voting will be held on October 16.