New Delhi, 05 October (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Central Election Committee has approved the names of eight candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha biennial elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Tarun Chugh, in-charge of the BJP’s national headquarters, announced the names of the eight candidates on Monday. The candidates fielded by the BJP from Uttar Pradesh are Dharampal Singh, Radhakant Ojha, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Shruti Gangwar.

Dharampal Singh is currently a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government. Prakash Pal was recently appointed president of the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh OBC Morcha. Priyanka Singh Rawat, who has previously served as a Lok Sabha member from Barabanki, is currently a vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh BJP. Radhakant Ojha is a High Court advocate. Vidyasagar Sonkar belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and has previously served as a member of the Lok Sabha.

It may be recalled that the nomination process for the 2026 Rajya Sabha biennial elections in Uttar Pradesh began on September 29. Candidates can file their nominations until October 6. The nomination papers will be scrutinised on October 7, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 9.

Polling for the Rajya Sabha elections will be held on October 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Counting of votes will begin at 5 p.m. on the same day, immediately after the conclusion of polling.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar