Samajwadi Party names candidates for Rajya Sabha polls in U.P.

The Samajwadi Party has chosen Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as its contenders for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. Both individuals are scheduled to submit their nomination papers on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. SP officials announced this on the social media platform X. The electoral process was prompted by the expiration of terms for nine Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh, including prominent figures such as Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and BL Verma, as well as politicians from the BJP, SP, and BSP.

Puri and Verma will need to secure re-election to retain their ministerial positions. One of the vacant seats was left open when former deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma stepped down to become Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to an assessment of the current composition of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, the BJP-led coalition could potentially secure eight seats, while the SP, with the assistance of the Congress party, could win two, barring any unforeseen developments like additional candidates contesting for the remaining seats.

The last date to submit nominations is October 6, 2026, with scrutiny set for October 7. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 9. Voters are expected to cast their ballots on October 16, from 9 am to 4 pm, followed by the count on the same day. In the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, all eight BJP candidates and two SP candidates, Jaya Bachchan and Ramji Lal Suman, emerged victorious in Uttar Pradesh. The SP had initially nominated Alok Ranjan, an ex-chief secretary, but he did not win his seat.