BJP names 8 candidates for Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha polls
The party dropped several sitting MPs and chose new nominees to balance caste and regional representation ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
- On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party announced eight candidates for the October 16 Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, fielding two women candidates to contest 10 vacancies in the state.
- Ten Rajya Sabha seats are currently vacant in Uttar Pradesh, with the BJP previously holding eight while the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party each held one; this election is part of a routine six-year cycle for the Upper House.
- Nominees include Uttar Pradesh MLA Dharampal Singh, former Lok Sabha member Priyanka Singh Rawat, and Shruti Gangwar, alongside Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, and Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan.
- The party excluded Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Consumer Affairs Banwari Lal Verma from the list, a move party insiders indicated suggests a potential shakeup in the Central Council of Ministers.
- Candidates must file nominations by Tuesday, October 6, 2026, before the October 16 vote, with each nominee requiring 37 first-preference votes from state legislators to secure a seat in the 245-member Upper House.
56 Articles
56 Articles
Rajya Sabha Elections: BJP releases list for Uttar Pradesh; New faces reflect regional balance
LUCKNOW: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on oCTOBER 5, Monday announced eight candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections in Uttar Pradesh, dropping all eight outgoing party nominees, including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and BL Verma. The fresh lineup brings together OBC, Dalit and Brahmin representation with two women candidates. It reflects representation across regions, regional balance and mandate to organisational ex…
Who are BJP’s 8 Rajya Sabha picks from UP? Party drops sitting MPs, strikes caste balance ahead of polls
The list reflects an effort to maintain caste and social balance ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections with three candidates nominated belonging to the OBC category and two being Dalits.
No Hardeep Puri, Smriti Irani: The New BJP Faces For UP Rajya Sabha Polls
Dharam Pal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Shruti Gangwar are the eight BJP candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls.
UP Rajya Sabha elections: BJP releases list of 8 candidates; Ministers Hardeep Puri, BL Verma dropped
The BJP has announced eight candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, where polls will be held for 10 seats. Notably, several current members are not included. The Samajwadi Party also named two candidates. Nominations are due on October 6, and voting is on October 16.
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