Smriti Irani, Harish Dwivedi in BJP's Rajya Sabha race for UP: Reports

The state will vote for 10 Rajya Sabha seats on October 16, with the nomination process beginning on September 29.

The current electoral arithmetic gives the BJP-led alliance enough numbers to secure eight seats, while the Samajwadi Party has the numbers to win two.

Smriti Irani, Harish Dwivedi among names

Sources said the BJP may nominate Smriti Irani and Harish Dwivedi, while the names of Varun Gandhi, former Union minister Sanjeev Baliyan and former MP Satyapal Singh are also being discussed.

Other names reportedly in consideration include Suresh Rana, Amit Malviya and Rajbir Singh.

The party is also considering representation from different social groups, including Jats, Rajputs, OBCs and minorities, ahead of next year's Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.

BJP eyes eighth seat

The BJP is expected to comfortably secure seven seats based on its own strength in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The BJP-led NDA has the numbers to secure an eighth seat as well.

That could set up a contest for the remaining seats, with the possibility of cross-voting becoming a factor.

The BJP currently has 256 MLAs, while its allies and supporting parties take the NDA's effective strength higher. The SP has 101 MLAs and, along with its two Congress allies, has 103 MLAs.

SP may field three candidates

The Samajwadi Party is reportedly considering fielding three candidates, although its current numbers are sufficient to comfortably elect two.

Senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav is being considered for another term in the Upper House. The names of former IAS officer Alok Ranjan and Salim Iqbal are also reportedly being discussed.

A third SP candidate would require additional votes beyond the party's current strength, making the contest for the final seat particularly closely watched.

BJP considers returning leaders, new faces

The terms of several sitting BJP Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh are ending, including BL Verma, Geeta Shakya, Hardeep Singh Puri, Brij Lal, Neeraj Shekhar and Arun Singh.

Dinesh Sharma's seat is also among the 10 being contested after his resignation from the Rajya Sabha following his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Sources said BL Verma and Geeta Shakya could be considered for another term. The BJP is also discussing replacing Brij Lal with a younger Dalit face.

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri's name is also being discussed for another Rajya Sabha term, particularly in the context of the Punjab Assembly election scheduled for next year.

BJP's 2027 UP strategy in focus

The candidate selection is also being viewed through the lens of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.

Sources said the BJP is looking to retain Brahmin support while seeking to rebuild its support among non-Yadav OBCs, including Kurmis, and non-Jatav Scheduled Castes, after the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The party is also looking at greater representation for youth and women.

The names were discussed at a BJP core committee meeting in Lucknow. The final list is expected to be decided by the party's Central Election Committee in the coming days, according to sources.

Rajya Sabha poll schedule

The Election Commission has scheduled polling for October 16, from 9 am to 4 pm, followed by counting at 5 pm.

The last date for filing nominations is October 6, with scrutiny on October 7 and withdrawal allowed until October 9.