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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday nominated journalist-turned-politician Amar Sable, who hails from the backward Matang community of Pune district, as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha.
The election is necessitated after the seat fell vacant following the demise of Congress leader Murli Deora.
Sable heads BJP’s Scheduled Caste cell. A close confidant of party veteran, late Gopinath Munde, he had played a key role during his mentor’s election campaigns.
After graduating in politics, Sable acquired a postgraduation in journalism. He is the editor of a weekly magazine and has worked in different Marathi dailies.
BJP leaders, including party Vice-President Vinay Sahasrabudhe, Secretary Shyam Jaju, spokesman Shaina N C and women’s wing president Vijaya Rahatkar were other frontrunners to get the nomination.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, however, chose Sable in a bid to display the party’s resolve for inclusive politics,” a senior minister told Business Standard.
Sable is likely to be elected as Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena and other parties have refrained from nominating anyone till Tuesday — the last day for filing nominations.
Sable, who likes keeping a low profile, hails from Baramati, a bastion NCP president Sharad Pawar. He has, however, been working for the BJP from the Pimpri Chinchwad area in Pune.
He had wanted to contest the Assembly election from the area last year but did not as the seat was given to BJP ally Republican Party of India.
