NEW DELHI, March 4 -- The BJP on Tuesday announced its candidates for the 2026 biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha, fielding nominees from six states, including Bihar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Odisha and West Bengal. In a press statement issued from its central office in New Delhi, the party said its central election committee has approved the names for the upcoming polls. From Bihar, the BJP has nominated Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar. Nabin's candidature assumes added significance as he recently took over as the BJP's national president, marking a generational shift in the party's top leadership. A prominent face from Bihar, Nabin has held key organisational and ministerial responsibilities in the state and is considered close to the party's central leadership. His elevation to the presidency was seen as part of the BJP's effort to strengthen its social coalition in eastern India while promoting younger leaders to national roles. Party leaders indicated that sending Nabin to the Rajya Sabha would provide him a parliamentary platform commensurate with his organisational responsibilities. As national president, he is expected to steer the party through a series of crucial assembly elections and prepare the ground for the next general election cycle. The second nominee from Bihar, Shivesh Kumar, is regarded as an organisational hand with experience in state-level party affairs. In Assam, the BJP has fielded Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan, both of whom have been associated with the party's expansion in the Northeast. From Chhattisgarh, Smt. Laxmi Verma has been named as the candidate, while Haryana will see Sanjay Bhatia in the fray. For Odisha, the party has nominated Manmohan Samal and Sujeet Kumar. In West Bengal, Rahul Sinha has been named as the BJP's candidate for the Upper House. The press release was issued by Arun Singh, BJP national general secretary and headquarters in-charge....