The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally announced the names of eight candidates for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha, scheduled for 2026 in Uttar Pradesh. This decision was confirmed on October 5 by Tarun Chugh, Rajya Sabha MP and the party’s National Headquarters In-charge. The approved candidates include Dharampal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan, and Shruti Gangwar.

Details on Election Schedule and Retiring Members

The Election Commission of India has previously released a schedule for biennial polls concerning 11 Rajya Sabha seats, comprising ten seats from Uttar Pradesh and one seat from Uttarakhand, which are set to become vacant in November due to the retirement of existing members. The retiring members from Uttar Pradesh are Union Minister Hardeep Puri, Arun Singh, Brijlal, BL Verma, Ram Gopal Yadav, Neerja Shekhar, Geeta Alias Chandraprabha, Ramji, Seema, and Dr Dinesh Sharma. In Uttarakhand, Naresh Bansal is the only retiring member.

Among the notable absences in the BJP’s nominations are Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and BL Sharma, who have not been chosen for re-nomination to the Upper House. This development follows the party’s recent candidate announcements for other regions, including Dinesh Arya from Uttarakhand and Rukmini Mallick for a by-election in West Bengal.

Nomination Process and Other Parties’ Candidates

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Rajya Sabha elections is October 6, providing candidates a limited timeframe to register. The scrutiny of nomination papers is scheduled for October 7, with the final date for candidates to withdraw their nominations set for October 9. Voting will occur on October 16, with polling hours extending from 9 am to 4 pm and counting occurring on the same day.

The Samajwadi Party has also entered the fray, naming two candidates for the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh: Professor Ramgopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani. The party’s strategy appears to be focused on consolidating its presence in the Upper House as the election date approaches.

As the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh readies itself for the upcoming elections, the BJP’s candidate selections and the activities of opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party will significantly shape the competitive dynamics in the state. The election will be pivotal, not just for the parties involved but also for regional and national politics.

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