BJP Names Former TMC MP as Rajya Sabha Candidate
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India's BJP party has announced two new candidates for the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament.
One of the candidates is Koel Mallick, from West Bengal. She was previously a member of parliament for the TMC, which is a different political party active in Bengal.
Koel Mallick has now switched sides and been named as the BJP's candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal.
The second candidate named by the BJP is Dinesh Arya, who will stand for a seat representing Uttarakhand, a state in northern India.
Members of the Rajya Sabha are not elected directly by the public. Instead, they are chosen through a vote by elected members of state assemblies.
Political parties often name well-known people or former members of other parties as their candidates for such seats.
The BJP's announcement of these two candidates has drawn attention because Koel Mallick previously represented a rival party, the TMC.
Her move to the BJP and her nomination as a Rajya Sabha candidate mark a notable change in her political career.
No further details were given about when the voting for these seats will take place.
Vocabulary8 words
- BJP
- a major political party in India
- Rajya Sabha
- the upper house of India's parliament
- parliament
- the group of people who make laws for a country
- member of parliament
- a person elected or chosen to work in parliament
- TMC
- a political party that is active mainly in West Bengal
- assemblies
- groups of elected people who make decisions for a state
- candidate
- a person chosen to compete for a position or seat
- Uttarakhand
- a state located in northern India
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Quiz
Answer key
1. TMC 2. Vote by state assembly members 3. False
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
India's BJP party has announced two new _____ for the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament.
One of the candidates is Koel Mallick, from West Bengal. She was previously a _____ for the TMC, which is a different political party active in Bengal.
Koel Mallick has now switched sides and been named as the BJP's candidate for a Rajya Sabha _____ from West Bengal.
The second candidate named by the BJP is Dinesh Arya, who will stand for a seat representing _____, a state in northern India.
Members of the Rajya Sabha are not elected directly by the public. Instead, they are chosen through a vote by elected members of state _____.
Political parties often name well-known people or former members of other parties as their _____ for such seats.
The BJP's announcement of these two candidates has drawn _____ because Koel Mallick previously represented a rival party, the TMC.
Her move to the BJP and her _____ as a Rajya Sabha candidate mark a notable change in her political career.
Discussion questions
- Why might political parties choose former members of rival parties as candidates?
- What are some reasons a politician might switch parties?
- How is the Rajya Sabha different from directly elected bodies you know about?
- Do you think it's common for actors or celebrities to enter politics in your country?
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