Archive · 5 Oct 2026
BJP Names Eight Candidates for Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Polls
The BJP chose eight people to run for Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh.
The election is scheduled for October 16.
The party expects to win eight of the 10 seats that are becoming vacant.
Its candidates come from several caste communities and regions in the state.
Two of the candidates are women.
The article says the choices reflect the party’s efforts to balance community representation and regional interests.
Hardeep Singh Puri, Smriti Irani and BL Verma were not included.
The BJP has not said that their exclusion means a Cabinet reshuffle is planned.
The BJP named eight candidates for Uttar Pradesh’s October 16 Rajya Sabha elections.
The party is expected to win eight of the state’s 10 vacant seats.
The nominees include three OBC candidates, two Dalits, two Brahmins and one Thakur.
Two women, Priyanka Singh Rawat and Shruti Gangwar, are among the candidates.
Hardeep Singh Puri, Smriti Irani and BL Verma were not renominated; the BJP did not link the decisions to a Cabinet reshuffle.
- Who
- The BJP and its eight Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha candidates.
- What
- The BJP announced eight candidates for the state’s Rajya Sabha elections.
- When
- The candidates were announced on October 5, 2026; the election is scheduled for October 16.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- The selections reflect caste and regional representation, organisational priorities and preparations for the 2027 Assembly election, according to the article.
- Candidates
- Dharampal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Shruti Gangwar
- Election date
- October 16, 2026
- Seats falling vacant
- 10 in Uttar Pradesh
- Expected BJP wins
- Eight seats
- Candidate breakdown
- Three OBC candidates, two Dalits, two Brahmins and one Thakur
- Women nominees
- Priyanka Singh Rawat and Shruti Gangwar
- Not renominated
- Hardeep Singh Puri, Smriti Irani and BL Verma
- Cabinet reshuffle
- The BJP did not officially link the nominations to a Cabinet reshuffle.