Jaipur, June 4 -- Even as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are yet to announce their candidates for three Rajya Sabha seats, political circles in the state were rife with buzz on prospective candidates. Based on the current strength of both parties in the state assembly, BJP is expected to secure two seats while the Congress is likely to win one. BJP insiders said that the party may field a woman candidate for one of its two seats. BJP national secretary Alka Gurjar was a strong contender for candidature, they said, adding that the idea was to to send a strong message on women's representation. The contest for the BJP's second seat appears to be centred around Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and former state party chief Dr Satish Poonia. Bittu's current Rajya Sabha term is set to end in June 2026, and given his role in the Union government, party insiders believe he remains a strong contender for another term. At the same time, Poonia's organisational experience and influence among the Jat community have kept him firmly in the race. Other names that have figured in political discussions include former Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore and former minister Prabhu Lal Saini. However, insiders suggest the final choice is likely to emerge from among Alka Gurjar, Ravneet Singh Bittu and Satish Poonia. If Bittu is not nominated from Rajasthan, the party may consider sending him to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Congress insiders said that national spokesperson Pawan Khera was being viewed as the leading contender. Other names under discussion include Bhanwar Jitendra Singh and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Neeraj Dangi. The Congress leadership may be considering a national-level face to avoid factional rivalries within the state unit, said the leaders quoted above. The issue of women's representation has also emerged as a key talking point ahead of the election. Since 1952, only nine women have been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. At present, among the state's 10 Rajya Sabha members, Sonia Gandhi is the only female representative. BJP leaders quoted above said that against this backdrop, the nomination of Alka Gurjar or another woman candidate would carry significant political symbolism. Political analysts believe the Rajya Sabha election is not merely a numbers game but also a reflection of broader considerations such as caste and social balance, women's representation, and the strategic positioning of parties ahead of the 2028 Rajasthan Assembly elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. All eyes are now on the final candidate lists of the BJP and Congress, which are expected to shape the next phase of Rajasthan's political equations....