The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is weighing several prominent names for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, with former Union minister Smriti Irani, national general secretary Harish Dwivedi and former MP Varun Gandhi among those being discussed, according to party sources.
10 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh will go to polls on October 16. The nomination process begins on September 29, with candidates able to file their papers until October 6.
The BJP is also considering former Union minister Sanjeev Baliyan, former MP Satyapal Singh and several other leaders. A panel of names has been discussed within the state unit, with the final decision expected from the party’s central leadership.
BJP weighs candidates ahead of UP polls
The BJP is expected to secure seven Rajya Sabha seats based on its current strength in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The party is also looking to win an eighth seat, which could set up a contest for the final two seats and make cross-voting a factor.
Party sources said the candidate selection is also being considered in the context of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Names representing different social groups, including Jats, Rajputs, OBCs and minorities, are under consideration.
Among the other names being discussed are OBC leaders Geeta Shakya and BL Verma, whose Rajya Sabha terms are ending. Verma, a Union minister, could be considered for another term. Hardeep Singh Puri is also among the names being discussed, while the party is considering changes among its Dalit representation.
SP may field three candidates
The Samajwadi Party (SP) is also preparing for the election. Sources said it could field three candidates even though its current numbers are enough to comfortably secure two seats.
Senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav is being considered for another Rajya Sabha term. Former IAS officer Alok Ranjan and Salim Iqbal are also among the names reportedly under consideration.
The SP has 101 MLAs, while two Congress legislators support it, taking its effective strength to 103. Based on the current assembly arithmetic, the party can secure two seats, while an additional candidate would require support from outside the alliance.
The numbers behind the 10th seat
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly currently has 397 members. With Rajya Sabha elections conducted through proportional representation and the single transferable vote system, each candidate needs 37 first-preference votes to win a seat.
The BJP-led alliance has enough numbers to secure eight seats, while the SP has the numbers for two. Any attempt by either side to secure an additional seat would therefore depend on support beyond its existing strength.
The BJP discussed potential candidates at a core committee meeting in Lucknow on Monday. The final names are expected to be decided by the party’s Central Election Committee in the coming days.