The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially announced its list of 8 candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections 2026 in Uttar Pradesh. The Central Election Committee of the party has finalized these names for the 8 seats out of the 10 that are going to the polls. The announcement was made public through a list released by Tarun Chugh, the BJP National Headquarters In-charge and Rajya Sabha MP. This move by the party signals a strategic shift, incorporating several new faces while moving away from some established names. The elections for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh are scheduled to take place on 16 October, and the BJP has now set its lineup for this crucial contest.
Detailed Profile of the Candidates
The list of candidates released by the BJP includes a diverse mix of experienced leaders, legal experts, and organizational stalwarts. The 8 candidates are Dharampal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan, and Shruti Gangwar. These individuals represent various regions and social segments of Uttar Pradesh, reflecting the party's broader electoral strategy for the upper house of Parliament.
- Dharampal Singh: He is currently serving as the Minister of Livestock in the Uttar Pradesh government and is a prominent BJP leader. He is the MLA from the Aonla assembly seat in Bareilly. He has served as a minister twice in the Yogi Adityanath-led government, showcasing his seniority and influence.
- Radhakant Ojha: A senior advocate and former president of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, Ojha is a highly respected figure in Prayagraj. Having been elected as the president of the Bar Association twice, he is a significant face in both legal and social circles.
- Prakash Pal: He is the State President of the Uttar Pradesh BJP OBC Morcha. Prior to this, he held the responsibility of Regional President for the Kanpur-Bundelkhand region. Currently, he is working to strengthen the party's organizational structure in his capacity as the OBC Morcha head.
- Vidyasagar Sonkar: Counted among the senior Dalit leaders of the BJP, Sonkar is a former Member of Parliament and a former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC). Hailing from Jaunpur, he has held important positions such as State General Secretary and Deputy Leader in the Legislative Council. He has also served as a Lok Sabha MP from Machhlishahr, Jaunpur.
- Gopi Krishna Pandey: A senior organizational worker and party official, Pandey is a dedicated leader who has been managing the party's ground-level organizational tasks and campaigns for a long time.
- Priyanka Singh Rawat: A former Lok Sabha MP from Barabanki, she is a prominent female face of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. She represented the Barabanki constituency in the 16th Lok Sabha and remains active in the organization at both national and state levels.
- Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan: He is the State General Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh BJP and the In-charge of the Western region. He served as the BJP MLA from the Etmadpur assembly seat in Agra from 2017 to 2022 and has been active in the organization for a long period.
- Shruti Gangwar: The Chairperson of the Urban Co-operative Bank in Bareilly and a social worker, she is an IIT graduate. Shruti Gangwar is the daughter of senior BJP leader and Governor Santosh Gangwar and is highly active socially and politically in the Bareilly-Baheri region.
Exclusions and Political Implications
One of the most notable aspects of this list is the absence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. This exclusion has put an end to the speculations regarding his re-nomination to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. Along with Hardeep Singh Puri, the terms of other Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh, including Arun Singh and Neeraj Shekhar, are also coming to an end. The party's decision to introduce new faces like Shruti Gangwar and Radhakant Ojha suggests a focus on local leadership and professional expertise.
CM Yogi Adityanath Congratulates Candidates
Following the announcement of the candidates, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his congratulations to all the nominees. Taking to the social media platform X, he wrote, "Hearty congratulations to all the respected candidates announced today, while " This endorsement from the Chief Minister further solidifies the party's unity heading into the 16 October elections.