BJP and Samajwadi Party gear up for a crucial Rajya Sabha contest in Uttar Pradesh amid intense seat calculations. (Image: Google)
New Delhi: The upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections in Uttar Pradesh are set to witness a strategic battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) with the contest for the 10th seat expected to draw maximum attention. Voting for the 10 vacant Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh is scheduled for October 16, 2026. Eight of these seats are currently held by BJP members, while one each belongs to the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Based on the present strength of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the BJP-led alliance is expected to secure seven seats, while the SP is positioned to win two seats. However, the possibility of a contest for the third seat has opened a fresh political calculation.
To win a Rajya Sabha seat through first preference votes, a candidate requires around 37 votes in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The SP-led opposition currently has around 102 MLAs, including 100 from the Samajwadi Party and two from the Congress. According to political calculations, the party may have surplus votes after securing two seats, prompting discussions over fielding a third candidate.
Sources indicate that the SP could use second-preference votes strategically to strengthen its chances, although winning the additional seat would require careful vote management.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 294 MLAs in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly. BJP alone accounts for 257 MLAs, while its allies include Apna Dal (S), Rashtriya Lok Dal, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and Nishad Party along with independent supporters. The Assembly currently has five vacant seats.
While the BJP has sufficient numbers to comfortably secure seven Rajya Sabha seats, the party’s decision on whether to field an eighth candidate could influence the final contest.
Among the BJP leaders completing their Rajya Sabha terms are Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Dinesh Sharma, Seema Dwivedi, Arun Singh, Neeraj Shekhar, B L Verma, Geeta Shakya and Brij Lal. From the Samajwadi Party, senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav is completing his term, while BSP’s Ramji Gautam is also retiring. With no BSP MLA currently in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, the party is unlikely to play a direct role in the electoral contest.
Political attention is also focused on BJP’s possible candidates. Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister is among those whose renomination is being discussed.
Former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister, Dinesh Sharma has already been appointed Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Other BJP leaders, including Arun Singh and Neeraj Shekhar are also reportedly seeking another Rajya Sabha term.
The Rajya Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh is expected to become a test of political strategy, candidate selection and vote management. While the BJP has a numerical advantage, the SP’s possible third-candidate move could add uncertainty to the race for the final seat.
