BJP Announces Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Candidates and Drops Incumbents

The BJP announced eight candidates from Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for October 16, 2026.

The candidate list drops all eight outgoing members, including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Union MoS B.L. Verma, raising questions regarding their future in the Council of Ministers.

The party selected candidates with a specific focus on OBC and Brahmin representation, including Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Dharampal Singh and state backward classes morcha president Prakash Pal.