Story perspectives

BJP Finalizes Rajya Sabha Slate for UP Elections

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 10:28 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The BJP is finalizing a Rajya Sabha slate that includes Smriti Irani and Harish Dwivedi.
Rajya Sabha elections for ten Uttar Pradesh seats are scheduled for October 16, 2026.
The Election Commission opened nominations on September 29; filing ends October 6, withdrawals by October 9.
BJP’s 256 Assembly MLAs plus NDA allies total 289, enough for seven seats and a possible eighth.
Samajwadi-Congress holds 103 votes for two seats; BSP support could affect the last seat.

History

Historical Context

After the BJP-led NDA won the 1999 election, securing 299 Lok Sabha seats and forming the first non-Congress government to complete a full term under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the party entrenched its upper-house presence. Today, the BJP fields Smriti Irani and Harish Dwivedi for Uttar Pradesh’s ten Rajya Sabha seats, seeking to echo that 1999 dominance ahead of the 2027 general poll.

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Story summary

The BJP is finalizing a Rajya Sabha slate that includes Smriti Irani and Harish Dwivedi.
Rajya Sabha elections for ten Uttar Pradesh seats are scheduled for October 16, 2026.
The Election Commission opened nominations on September 29; filing ends October 6, withdrawals by October 9.
BJP’s 256 Assembly MLAs plus NDA allies total 289, enough for seven seats and a possible eighth.
Samajwadi-Congress holds 103 votes for two seats; BSP support could affect the last seat.

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