Archive · 5 Oct 2026
BJP Names Eight Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Candidates, Drops Puri
The BJP has chosen eight people to run for Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh.
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri is not on the list.
Seven other sitting BJP members from the state were also left off.
The party named minister Dharam Pal Singh and seven other candidates.
A BJP leader said the group includes two women and candidates from several social communities.
Puri’s current term ends on November 25, 2026.
He has faced opposition calls to resign over reported email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein.
Puri denied wrongdoing but acknowledged meeting Epstein.
Elections for seats in three states are scheduled for October 16.
The BJP announced eight candidates for Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh, including minister Dharam Pal Singh.
Hardeep Singh Puri was not included; his current Rajya Sabha term ends on November 25, 2026.
Seven other sitting BJP MPs from Uttar Pradesh were also omitted from the candidate list.
The BJP list includes two women, three candidates from Other Backward Classes and two from Scheduled Castes, according to a BJP leader.
Elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bengal are scheduled for October 16.
- Who
- The BJP and its eight Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha candidates; Hardeep Singh Puri was not included.
- What
- The BJP announced its candidate list for upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
- When
- The list was announced on Monday; elections are scheduled for October 16.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, with elections also scheduled for seats in Uttarakhand and Bengal.
- Why
- The BJP selected candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections as several members' terms are ending.
Opposition criticism
Hardeep Singh Puri's response
Epstein email exchanges and calls to resign
Opposition criticism
Opposition figures renewed calls for Puri to resign after his email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein were raised in Parliament.
Hardeep Singh Puri's response
Puri denied wrongdoing, acknowledged meeting Epstein, and described Rahul Gandhi's remarks as “buffoonery.”
Fuel prices
Opposition criticism
Citizens have criticized Puri over high fuel prices.
Hardeep Singh Puri's response
Puri attributed rising costs to trade-route disruptions that increased freight and other costs, rather than a global crude-oil shortage.
- BJP candidates from Uttar Pradesh
- Eight
- Candidates
- Dharam Pal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Shruti Gangwar
- Scheduled election date
- October 16
- Seats covered
- 12 across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bengal
- Puri's current term ends
- November 25, 2026
- Other excluded sitting BJP MPs
- Arun Singh, Seema Dwivedi, B.L. Verma, Neeraj Shekhar, Brijlal and Geeta Shakya
- Representation described by a BJP leader
- Two women, three candidates from Other Backward Classes and two from Scheduled Castes