Why Samajwadi Party fielded Reliance executive Dhanraj Nathwani in Rajya Sabha polls

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has selected corporate executive Dhanraj Nathwani, son of Reliance Industries' Director of Corporate Affairs Parimal Nathwani, as a candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections. This decision has sparked questions about the party's political messaging, especially in light of its campaign focusing on the Pichhda, Dalit aur Alpasankhyak (PDA) plank.

Nathwani, who has been with Reliance Industries for about 16 years, oversees various projects within the company's ecosystem and is involved in high-tech manufacturing of military equipment and aerospace systems. The SP initially surprised some sections with this choice, but party leaders maintain that they will field another candidate from a PDA community.

The party argues that Nathwani's nomination aligns with its socialist ideology, as he represents both social and industry outreach. The SP also claims that some BJP MLAs might be willing to cross-vote for the Opposition candidate, giving the party an edge in the upcoming 2027 election.