Preparations for the upcoming biennial elections to the Upper House of Parliament in Uttar Pradesh have entered their decisive phase. The Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party has officially finalized candidates for 8 seats from the state for the 2026 contest. Tarun Chugh, BJP national headquarters in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP, released the verified candidate roster on behalf of the party. With voting across 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh scheduled for October 16, the party's selections highlight a distinct focus on regional balance, social representation, and organizational groundwork.
Sitting Union Minister Dropped as Fresh Faces Emerge
The most striking aspect of the candidate roster is the omission of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, an incumbent Upper House member representing the state. His absence brings an abrupt conclusion to ongoing political speculation regarding whether he would secure another nomination from Uttar Pradesh. Other prominent representatives whose tenures from the state are concluding include Arun Singh and Neeraj Shekhar. Instead of repeating retiring incumbents, the leadership has prioritized regional leadership and seasoned grassroots functionaries.
Profiles of the 8 Nominated Contenders
The party has put forward a diverse mix of legal luminaries, former lawmakers, grassroots organizers, and administrative leaders across the eight slots
- Dharampal Singh: Serving as the Minister for Animal Husbandry in the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, he represents the Aonla assembly constituency in Bareilly. He has served as a minister twice in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet and remains a prominent figure in state politics.
- Radhakant Ojha: A widely recognized legal personality in Prayagraj and a senior advocate, he has been elected twice as president of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, holding extensive experience in judicial and social matters.
- Prakash Pal: Currently heading the state OBC Morcha for the Uttar Pradesh BJP, he previously led the party's organizational machinery as the regional president for Kanpur-Bundelkhand.
- Vidyasagar Sonkar: Regarded as a seasoned Dalit leader within the party, he hails from Jaunpur. Sonkar is a former Lok Sabha MP from Jaunpur (Machhlishahr) and a former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), having also served as state general secretary and deputy leader in the Legislative Council.
- Gopi Krishna Pandey: A committed party functionary and senior organizer who has long operated at the grassroots level handling campaigns and organizational responsibilities.
- Priyanka Singh Rawat: A prominent woman leader in the state unit, she served as the representative for the Barabanki constituency in the 16th Lok Sabha and continues to engage in organizational duties at both state and national levels.
- Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan: Functioning as state general secretary and in-charge of the western zone for the UP BJP, he previously represented the Etmadpur assembly constituency in Agra as a BJP MLA between 2017 and 2022.
- Shruti Gangwar: Chairperson of the Urban Co-operative Bank in Bareilly and an active social worker, she is an IIT alumna. She is the daughter of senior party leader and Governor Santosh Gangwar, maintaining an active political and social footprint in the Bareilly-Baheri belt.
Chief Minister Extends Felicitations
Following the formal release of the roster, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conveyed his congratulations to the selected nominees. Sharing his thoughts on the social media platform X, he wished them well, offering prayers for their historic victory.
