Sharda Devi nominated for Manipur Rajya Sabha seat on June 18
Synopsis
The BJP has fielded its Manipur state president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state, with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh framing the pick as a women's empowerment signal. If elected on June 18, Sharda Devi has said her top priority will be restoring peace and rehabilitating those displaced by the state's ongoing ethnic conflict.
Key Takeaways
BJP 's Central Election Committee nominated Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi , Manipur state party president, for the June 18 Rajya Sabha election.
The seat fell vacant as sitting member Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba 's term ends on 21 June .
Biren Singh called the nomination a reflection of the party's commitment to women's empowerment and governance participation.
Sharda Devi said her top priorities if elected would be peace restoration and rehabilitation of ethnic violence displaced persons in Manipur.
Elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across India, including 4 from the Northeast , are scheduled for 18 June .
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Friday, 5 June said that the nomination of state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi for the June 18 Rajya Sabha election from Manipur reflects the party's commitment to women's empowerment and greater female participation in governance. The BJP's Central Election Committee had approved her candidature on Thursday as part of the biennial elections to the Upper House of Parliament.
Why the Seat Fell Vacant
The Rajya Sabha election was necessitated by the impending end of the term of sitting member Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba of the BJP, whose tenure from Manipur concludes on 21 June. Sharda Devi, as the party's state president, was selected by the BJP high command to contest the lone seat from the state.
What the Chief Minister Said
Singh, in a Facebook post, extended congratulations to the nominee. 'My heartfelt congratulations to Smt. Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi ji on this significant responsibility. Her nomination reflects the party's commitment to empowering women and ensuring greater participation of women in public life and governance,' he wrote. He added that he was confident she would 'effectively represent the aspirations of the people of Manipur and contribute towards the vision of a Viksit Manipur and Viksit Bharat.'
Sharda Devi's Priorities if Elected
Reacting to her nomination, Sharda Devi told reporters that her foremost priorities, if elected to the Upper House, would be the restoration of lasting peace in Manipur and the rehabilitation and resettlement of people displaced by the ongoing ethnic violence in the state. 'I am deeply humbled and grateful to the BJP leadership, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Nitin Nabin, for reposing their faith in me,' she said.
Senior Leaders Rally Behind the Nominee
State Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh also congratulated Sharda Devi in a Facebook post, calling the nomination 'a testament to your dedicated leadership, tireless hard work and unwavering commitment to the progress of our state.' He expressed confidence that she would be 'a strong and effective voice for the people of Manipur in the Upper House.'
Broader Rajya Sabha Elections on June 18
Elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across the country are scheduled for 18 June, including four seats from the Northeastern region. States going to polls include Karnataka (four seats), Andhra Pradesh (four seats), Gujarat (four seats), Madhya Pradesh (three seats), Rajasthan (three seats), Jharkhand (two seats), and one seat each from Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram. With the BJP holding a comfortable majority in the Manipur assembly, Sharda Devi is widely expected to win the seat uncontested.
Point of View
Framing governance continuity around inclusivity. Yet the more substantive question is whether a new Rajya Sabha member can meaningfully influence the Centre's response to Manipur's humanitarian crisis. Sharda Devi's stated priority of rehabilitating displaced persons is politically significant, but the scale of displacement after more than two years of violence demands legislative follow-through, not just intent. The real test of this nomination will come not on polling day but in Parliament's winter session.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi?
Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi is the president of the BJP's Manipur state unit. She has been nominated by the party's Central Election Committee to contest the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Manipur in the biennial Upper House elections scheduled for 18 June.
Why is the Manipur Rajya Sabha seat up for election?
The seat is up for election because the term of sitting member Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba of the BJP is set to expire on 21 June. The June 18 election is part of the routine biennial renewal of Rajya Sabha seats.
What are Sharda Devi's stated priorities if elected?
Sharda Devi has said her foremost priorities would be restoring lasting peace in Manipur and ensuring the rehabilitation and resettlement of people displaced by the ethnic violence that has affected the state.
How many Rajya Sabha seats are up for election on June 18?
A total of 24 Rajya Sabha seats across India will go to polls on 18 June, including four from the Northeastern states of Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram.
What did Manipur CM N. Biren Singh say about the nomination?
CM Singh, in a Facebook post, said the nomination 'reflects the party's commitment to empowering women and ensuring greater participation of women in public life and governance.' He expressed confidence that Sharda Devi would represent Manipur's aspirations and contribute to the vision of a Viksit Manipur and Viksit Bharat.
