Archive · 5 Oct 2026
BJP Names Eight Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Candidates, Drops Incumbents
The BJP has chosen eight people to run for Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh.
The election is scheduled for October 16.
The party did not renominate any of its sitting MPs from these seats.
Hardeep Singh Puri and BL Verma are among those not on the new list.
The article says the choices reflect different communities and regions in the state.
The BJP is expected to win seven seats and is trying to win an eighth.
The Samajwadi Party has named two candidates and may name another.
The article gives conflicting spellings for some candidates’ names.
The BJP announced eight candidates for the October 16 Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, dropping all sitting BJP MPs from the seats.
Among those dropped are Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of State BL Verma; speculation that Smriti Irani was selected proved false.
The candidates named are Dharampal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Shruti Gangwar.
The article says the slate includes three OBC candidates, three General category candidates and two Scheduled Caste candidates, with regional representation across Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP is expected to win seven seats and is seeking an eighth; the Samajwadi Party has named two candidates and may field a third.
- Who
- The BJP and its eight announced candidates; the Samajwadi Party has also named two candidates.
- What
- The BJP announced its candidates for eight Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha seats and dropped the sitting MPs.
- When
- The election is scheduled for October 16; nominations were to be filed Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh; the candidates were to file nominations in Lucknow.
- Why
- The BJP is balancing caste and regional representation ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
- Seats up for election
- 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh
- BJP candidates announced
- 8
- BJP's expected wins
- Seven considered certain; the party is also seeking an eighth
- Samajwadi Party
- Two candidates named; a third may be fielded
- Candidate category breakdown
- Three OBC, three General category and two Scheduled Caste candidates, according to the article
- Nomination filing
- Scheduled for Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in Lucknow
- Name discrepancies
- The article gives the names as Radhakant Ojha and Ramakant Ojha, and as Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Ram Singh Chauhan in different passages.