IMPHAL : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday nominated Adhikarimayum (A.) Sarda Devi as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from Manipur, with the former state party president filing her nomination papers at the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

Sarda Devi submitted her nomination before the Returning Officer in the presence of Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh, BJP legislators and senior party leaders.

Her candidature marks a significant moment for the party in Manipur. Sarda Devi, who became the first woman to head the BJP’s state unit, is now set to contest for a seat in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament.

The election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Manipur is scheduled to be held on June 18. As per the Election Commission’s notification, June 8 was the final date for filing nominations, while scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 9. Candidates may withdraw their nominations until June 11.

If required, polling will be conducted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on June 18, with counting of votes scheduled to commence at 5 p.m. on the same day.

Alongside Manipur, Rajya Sabha elections are slated to be held in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Rajasthan on June 18.

The BJP is widely expected to retain the Manipur seat, given its numerical advantage and continued dominance in the state assembly. Party leaders expressed confidence that Sarda Devi’s candidature would further strengthen the BJP’s representation in Parliament.

Her nomination comes at a time when the party is seeking to consolidate its political position in the state and maintain its influence in national legislative forums.