{
  "id": 12168440,
  "title": "BJP Names 8 Candidates For UP Rajya Sabha Polls, Hardeep Singh Puri & BL Verma Left Out",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/bjp-names-8-candidates-for-up-rajya-sabha-polls-hardeep-singh-puri-bl",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T13:52:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/uttar-pradesh/bjp-names-8-candidates-for-up-rajya-sabha-polls-hardeep-singh-puri-bl-verma-left-out"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lucknow, October 5: The BJP has selected eight candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections, omitting prominent national faces Hardeep Singh Puri and Smriti Irani to emphasize caste and regional balance. The eight new nominees, comprising OBC, Dalit, and upper-caste representation, include two women: Priyanka Singh Rawat and Shruti Gangwar. The list represents different regions of Uttar Pradesh, ensuring organizational strength rather than relying on national figures. The BJP has eight seats expected to be vacated in the state's upcoming Assembly elections, with the party's focus on social and regional factors shaping the nominations.",
  "summary": "Lucknow, Oct 5: The BJP has opted for caste and regional balance over prominent national faces in its Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha nominations, dropping Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and former Union minister Smriti Irani while fielding eight new candidates ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The list combines OBC, Dalit and upper-caste representation with two women nominees, signalling the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Actor Koel Mallick joins BJP, files Rajya Sabha nomination months after quitting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/actor-koel-mallick-joins-bjp-files-rajya-sabha-nomination-months",
        "published": "2026-10-05T09:04:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "BJP announces 8 candidates for Rajya Sabha polls in UP; Puri, BL Verma not in list",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/bjp-announces-8-candidates-for-rajya-sabha-polls-in-up-puri-bl-verma",
        "published": "2026-10-05T10:06:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "BJP releases list of candidates for Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/bjp-releases-list-of-candidates-for-rajya-sabha-polls-in-uttar-pradesh",
        "published": "2026-10-05T10:27:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "BJP names 8 candidates for UP Rajya Sabha polls, 2 Union ministers miss out",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/bjp-names-8-candidates-for-up-rajya-sabha-polls-2-union-ministers",
        "published": "2026-10-05T11:53:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}