The Congress party is yet to finalize its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, but internal discussions have intensified over possible nominations. According to party sources, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and spokesperson Pawan Khera are among the frontrunners likely to be considered for the Upper House from Karnataka. Along with them, senior leader Mansoor Ali Khan is also part of the ongoing deliberations. While no official announcement has been made yet, party insiders suggest that a formal list may be released soon.

Pawan Khera’s possible entry into the Rajya Sabha has been under speculation for quite some time. Within the party, discussions around his nomination are seen as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the leadership representation in Parliament. Alongside Karnataka, several other states are witnessing active internal consultations over candidate selection.

From Rajasthan, Congress leader Neeraj Dangi is being considered for another term in the Rajya Sabha. In Madhya Pradesh, the party is reportedly exploring the possibility of fielding a woman candidate, with names such as Shobha Oza and Meenakshi Natarajan emerging during internal discussions. However, senior leader Kamal Nath is also said to be interested in securing a Rajya Sabha seat from the state, adding another dimension to the decision-making process.

In Tamil Nadu, political strategist Praveen Chakravarty has emerged as a strong contender. His name is being discussed in connection with the party’s growing coordination with regional allies. Chakravarty is credited with playing a key role in shaping the Congress–TVK political alignment, which has influenced the state’s evolving political landscape. A Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu fell vacant after AIADMK leader C.V. Shanmugam resigned following his election to the state assembly. The by-election for this seat is scheduled to be held on June 18.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has reportedly allocated the vacant Rajya Sabha seat to the Congress as part of alliance arrangements, further strengthening speculation around Chakravarty’s candidature. However, political arithmetic remains crucial, as Congress currently holds only five MLAs in the state, while its ally TVK has a significantly stronger presence with 107 MLAs in the assembly.

Across the country, elections are being conducted for a total of 27 Rajya Sabha seats. Of these, 24 seats have fallen vacant due to retirements in 10 states, while three seats have become vacant following resignations in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. Voting for all 27 seats is scheduled for June 18, with counting set to begin the same day after 5 PM.

According to the Election Commission schedule, the last date for filing nominations is June 8 (until 3 PM). Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 9, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until June 11. With internal discussions still ongoing, Congress is expected to finalize its candidate list shortly, which could play a significant role in shaping the party’s parliamentary strategy ahead of the elections.