Nathwanis’ political journey: Father backed by NDA, son fielded by SP

New Delhi/Lucknow: The NDA helped send senior Reliance executive Parimal Nathwani back to the Rajya Sabha in June. On Wednesday, the Samajwadi Party chose his son Dhanraj Nathwani for a seat from Uttar Pradesh, extending the family’s parliamentary journey across states and rival political camps.

A group president at Reliance Industries and president of the Gujarat Cricket Association, Dhanraj was named alongside veteran leader Ram Gopal Yadav as the SP’s candidate for the Upper House.

Elections to 10 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh will be held on October 16, ahead of the state assembly polls due next year. Based on the present assembly arithmetic, the BJP-led alliance is expected to win eight seats and the Samajwadi Party two. Dhanraj, whose corporate responsibilities span several Reliance businesses, including overseeing the Jamnagar manufacturing divisions, filed his nomination in Lucknow in the presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the Honorable National President, Shri Akhilesh Yadav ji, for nominating me as the Samajwadi Party candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. Today, in the presence of Honorable Akhilesh Yadav ji in Lucknow, I filed my nomination for the Rajya Sabha, marking a new phase in my public life,” he posted on X.

Dhanraj also oversees the Jamnagar manufacturing divisions and exercises strategic oversight over the Jio business in Gujarat. Besides, he leads the engineering, procurement and construction vertical and oversees Reliance Jio Defence System Limited. He serves as vice chairperson of the Dwarkadhish Temple Administrative Committee and holds memberships of the Nathdwara Temple Board, and the Gujarat State Board for Wildlife. While Nathwani senior, Reliance Industries’ director-corporate affairs, secured a fourth consecutive Rajya Sabha term with BJP-led NDA backing, son Dhanraj is seeking entry through one of the BJP’s principal opponents in Uttar Pradesh.

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The Hans India