The UP Rajya Sabha polls are increasingly likely to conclude without a contest after eight BJP candidates filed their nominations on Tuesday for the 10 vacant seats. The Samajwadi Party has already nominated two candidates, and party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s latest statement indicated that the party’s focus is on the upcoming 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly rather than fielding a third Rajya Sabha nominee.
The Rajya Sabha elections for the 10 Uttar Pradesh seats are scheduled for October 16. If the SP does not add another candidate, all 10 nominees could be elected unopposed.
BJP Files Nominations for Eight Seats
The eight BJP candidates submitted their papers before returning officer Ajeet Verma in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and senior party leaders.
The nominees are Dharampal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Shruti Gangwar. The list includes candidates from OBC and Dalit communities as well as Brahmin and Thakur backgrounds, reflecting the party’s social and regional representation ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Each candidate filed two sets of nomination papers, with 10 lawmakers signing as proposers, according to the returning officer.
SP Has Two Candidates
The Samajwadi Party has nominated veteran leader Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani for the two seats available to it. Both have already filed their nominations.
There had been speculation that the SP could field a third candidate and force a contest for the 10th seat. However, Akhilesh Yadav said the party’s focus was now on “403”, referring to the total number of seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
His statement has strengthened indications that the SP may stick to its existing two nominees.
What Happens If There Is No Third Candidate?
With eight BJP candidates and two SP candidates in the fray, the numbers currently point towards all 10 candidates being elected without voting.
The BJP’s candidate selection has also attracted attention because several sitting Rajya Sabha members, including Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, were not renominated. The reshuffle has been viewed in the context of preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The final picture will depend on whether any additional nomination is filed before the process closes.
Relevant Link: Election Commission of India
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