BJP's UP Rajya Sabha Poll Candidate List Drops Hardeep Puri, All Other Sitting MPs in Big Shake-Up
The party fielded two women and a Dalit leader among its eight nominees as insiders said the list signals a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
- 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.
16 Articles
16 Articles
BJP Announces 8 Rajya Sabha Candidates In UP, Drops Hardeep Puri, Smriti Irani And Kumar Vishwas
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has left out several prominent names that were in the spotlight during the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections, including Smriti Irani, Kumar Vishwas and Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The party on Monday announced
Smriti Irani, Hardeep Puri missing from BJP’s UP Rajya Sabha nominee list; state panel had their names - The Tribune
The BJP on Monday opted for grassroots and organisational leaders as candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh, steering clear of prominent names such as Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and former Union Minister Smriti Irani.
BJP names 8 candidates for Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha polls
On October 5, BJP's Central Election Committee announced eight candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. These candidates include Dharmpal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, and Prakash Pal, among others. The announcement was issued through a press release from BJP's central office in New Delhi. Other named candidates are Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan, and Shruti Gangwar.
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