Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and BL Verma are not among eight candidates BJP has announced to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. The elections for 10 seats in the Rajya Sabha are to be held on two-year basis on October 16 in the State.
BJP candidates are ministers Dharampal Singh, Uttar Pradesh; Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar (former MP), Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat (ex-MP), Uttar Pradesh state general secretary Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Shruti Gangwar.
The announcement was made a day before last day of nominations. The party has slotted two women in the 8 slots – Priyanka Singh Rawat and Shruti Gangwar. Shruti Gangwar is the daughter of Jharkhand Governor and formerUnion Minister Santosh Gangwar.
Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh and Rajya Sabha member Hardeep Singh Puri was part of the list of names that were on the shortlist for renomination, but his Uttar Pradesh seat was up for renewal in November. But his name is not on the end-of-year list of the BJP. Another Union minister Smt Blanibelum Verma has also failed to get re-nominated. The BJP has not stated their reasons for their exclusion.
The eight nominations are as part of an election to 10 seats in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. With the help of BJP predicted to win more seats in the state Assembly, Samajwadi Party having declared its nominees ahead of the schedule, they may tip in on the field one more time.
The BJP’s list, too, also comprises representatives of various social groups. The nominees are said to include three OBC candidates, two candidates from the Scheduled caste category and three from the general category. There are two women on the list, and the selection also includes state ministers, organisational representatives, a former MP and other party representatives.
Expect all eight candidates to also register their nominations in Lucknow before the Oct. 16 election. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who posted it on X platform, welcomed the nominees and wished them good luck.
The nominations are BJP’s last names on its Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha list while the final denominations will have an impact on the party’s 10 Rajya Sabha seats that will be contested in the October 16 election in the state.