UP Rajya Sabha Polls: 8 BJP, 2 SP Candidates Set To Win Unopposed After Nomination Scrutiny

The Rajya Sabha election picture in Uttar Pradesh has effectively been settled, with the nomination papers of eight BJP candidates and two Samajwadi Party nominees found valid during scrutiny on Wednesday, paving the way for all 10 to be elected unopposed.

Returning Officer Ajeet Verma said the nomination papers of independent candidates Kante Syana and Onkar Nath Chaurasia were rejected for failing to fulfil mandatory requirements. With their rejection, exactly 10 candidates remain in the fray for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant from Uttar Pradesh.

The terms of 10 Rajya Sabha members from the state end on November 25, necessitating the biennial election. The BJP nominees are Uttar Pradesh minister Dharampal Singh, party OBC wing chief Prakash Pal, Shruti Gangwar, Vidya Sagar Sonkar, Priyanka Rawat, Radhakant Ojha, Gopi Krishna Pandey and Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan.

The SP has nominated veteran leader Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, an executive with Reliance Industries.

The candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 9. If there are no withdrawals, all 10 will be declared elected unopposed, making the scheduled October 16 polling unnecessary.

Under the current electoral arithmetic, a candidate needs 37 first-preference votes from MLAs to win a seat when all 10 seats are contested.

The outcome also reflects the BJP's numerical strength in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and comes months ahead of the crucial 2027 state elections. The party has opted for a completely new slate, with none of its eight outgoing Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh being renominated. Among those not returning are Union ministers Hardeep Puri and BL Verma.

The SP had been expected by some to field a third candidate and potentially force a contest for the final seat. However, party chief Akhilesh Yadav ended that speculation on Tuesday, saying, "Now, our focus is not on three, but on 403," referring to the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly.