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BJP’s Rajya Sabha strategy for Uttar Pradesh gains momentum with big names in contention. (Img: X)
Lucknow: The upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections from Uttar Pradesh have triggered intense political activity within the BJP, with several high-profile names emerging among the probable candidates for the 10 vacant seats from the state.
According to sources, the Uttar Pradesh BJP unit has sent a list of around 20 probable candidates to the party’s central leadership for final consideration. The list reportedly includes senior Union ministers, former MPs, organisational leaders and prominent political faces.
Among the names being discussed are Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, former Union Minister Smriti Irani, BJP national general secretary Harish Dwivedi and former Aam Aadmi Party leader and poet Kumar Vishwas.
The BJP is expected to win a majority of the available seats due to its strength in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and support from NDA allies.
The Rajya Sabha election for 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh is scheduled for October 16. The BJP currently holds eight of the outgoing seats, while the remaining two seats belong to the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party.
The party’s internal discussions have gained momentum as the BJP prepares its strategy for the upcoming electoral cycle, including the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
With the BJP-led NDA having a strong numerical advantage in the state assembly, the party is expected to secure at least seven seats in the Rajya Sabha election.
## Hardeep Singh Puri Likely To Continue In Rajya Sabha
Sources indicate that Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is likely to be renominated to the Upper House.
Puri’s continuation is being viewed within the party framework with an eye on Punjab politics, especially ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
He is currently the only Sikh member in the Union Cabinet after Ravneet Singh Bittu’s Rajya Sabha term ended on June 20.
The BJP leadership has been focusing on maintaining representation from different communities while finalising its Rajya Sabha nominations.
Former Union Minister Smriti Irani is among the prominent names reportedly being considered for a Rajya Sabha ticket from Uttar Pradesh.
Irani lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Amethi, a seat that had become one of the most closely watched constituencies in Indian politics.
Her possible nomination is being seen as part of the BJP’s strategy to retain experienced leaders in key political roles and continue using their organisational experience.
The BJP list reportedly includes Harish Dwivedi, former MP from Basti and currently a national general secretary of the party.
Dwivedi has previously represented Basti in the Lok Sabha twice but lost the 2024 election to Samajwadi Party candidate Ram Prasad Chaudhary.
The list also reportedly includes former AAP leader and poet Kumar Vishwas, whose political entry into the BJP fold has been a subject of speculation.
Other names being discussed include Rajveer Singh Raju Bhaiya, BL Verma, senior Jat leader Sanjeev Balyan, former MP Satyapal Singh and former IPS officer and MP Brij Lal.
The mathematics of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly plays a crucial role in the Rajya Sabha election.
The state has 397 effective MLAs for this election, and under the first-preference vote system, a candidate requires around 37 votes to win one Rajya Sabha seat.
In simple terms, a party needs 37 votes for one seat, 74 votes for two seats and around 370 votes to win all 10 seats.
The BJP has 256 MLAs in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, and with NDA allies, its strength rises to around 289 legislators.
This numerical advantage puts the BJP-led alliance in a position to comfortably secure multiple Rajya Sabha seats.
The selection process is not only about filling Rajya Sabha vacancies but also reflects the BJP’s broader political planning. The party is balancing organisational leaders, electoral performers, caste equations, regional representation and community representation while preparing its candidate list. The inclusion of leaders who lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections also highlights the BJP’s strategy of retaining experienced political faces within the party structure.
