The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced eight candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. The party has chosen to not renominate any of its seven retiring lawmakers, including two Union ministers. Fresh faces have been included, with a careful balance of caste dynamics.
The nominated candidates include three other backward classes (OBC) leaders, two Dalits, two Brahmins, and one Thakur. Among the nominees are Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Dharampal Singh, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Radhakant Ojha, Gopi Krishna Pandey, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan, and Shruti Gangwar. Two of the eight nominees are women.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to win seven of the eight seats. The Samajwadi Party has enough numbers for two seats and could influence the election for the eighth seat if they field a third candidate. The nominations come months before scheduled assembly elections in UP, and the selection of largely organizational and state-level leaders may signal the party’s poll focus.
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Source: hindustantimes.com
