Full Breakdown
SP Skips Third Rajya Sabha Candidate, Clearing Way for Unopposed Election of All 10 Seats in Uttar Pradesh
By Drooid · · How we work
Background and Strategic Context
On October 6, 2026, the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced it would not field a third candidate for the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha election. Party president Akhilesh Yadav said the party’s priority was the “403” Assembly seats rather than “three” Rajya Sabha seats.
The BJP had already filed eight nominations, matching the ten seats available. With the SP’s two candidates—Ram Gopal Yadav (seeking a sixth term) and Reliance Industries executive Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani—already in the race, the absence of a third SP nominee meant that all ten candidates could be declared elected unopposed, provided no withdrawals occur before the October 9 deadline.
Numbers and Vote Calculus
Uttar Pradesh’s 403-member Assembly has an effective strength of 396 MLAs. Under the single-transferable-vote system, a candidate needs 37 first-preference votes.
- SP’s strength: The SP holds 101 MLAs, effectively 100 after MLA Pooja Pal’s shift to the BJP. With two Congress MLAs, the SP can comfortably secure its two seats (74 votes required). A third seat would need at least 11 additional votes.
- BJP’s strength: The BJP has 255 MLAs. NDA allies—Apna Dal (S) (13), Rashtriya Lok Dal, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and NISHAD Party (5)—add 33, giving a combined tally of 288. Including two Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) MLAs raises it to 290, enough for the eight BJP candidates.
Reports differ on exact counts: some list the SP’s effective strength as 98–102 MLAs and the BJP-NDA alliance as 288–293.
Official Statements and Party Positions
- Akhilesh Yadav (SP president) posted on X: “Now our eyes are not on three but on 403 seats.”
- BJP deputy chief Vijay Bahadur Pathak praised the candidate list as a reward for grassroots workers.
- BJP deputy chief Keshav Prasad Maurya argued the SP would struggle to win more than 50 Assembly seats, framing the Rajya Sabha decision as a tactical retreat.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- MLA counts: Sources vary on the SP’s effective strength (98-102) and the BJP-NDA alliance total (288, 290, 291, or 293).
- Cross-voting expectations: Some reports suggest the BJP needed only two extra votes for its eighth seat; others cite a shortfall of six to seven votes, reflecting uncertainty about NDA legislators breaking party lines.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Now our eyes are not on three but on 403 seats,” — Akhilesh Yadav
- “The selection of candidates shows that the hard work of workers has been rewarded.” — Vijay Bahadur Pathak
What’s Next
- October 7, 2026: Scrutiny of nomination papers.
- October 9, 2026: Deadline for any candidate withdrawals.
- October 16, 2026 (scheduled): Polling day, should a contest arise.
If no withdrawals occur, the Election Commission will declare all ten nominees elected unopposed, cementing the BJP’s eight seats and the SP’s two seats ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.