All 10 Rajya Sabha candidates from Uttar Pradesh, comprising eight from the Bharatiya Janata Party and two from the Samajwadi Party, were officially declared elected unopposed on Friday.
The successful candidates from the BJP include Dharampal Singh, Prakash Pal, Shruti Gangwar, Vidya Sagar Sonkar, Priyanka Rawat, Radhakant Ojha, Gopi Krishna Pandey, and Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan. The Samajwadi Party representatives are Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani.
Ajit Verma, the returning officer for the Rajya Sabha polls and special secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, stated that all winning candidates except Nathwani collected their certificates in person. Ram Gopal Yadav and Radhakant Ojha received their credentials through authorized representatives. The smooth election process was finalized after the Samajwadi Party chose not to field a third candidate for the final opening, clearing the path for a contest-free result.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to social media to congratulate the ruling party winners, expressing confidence that they will significantly contribute toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed nation and uphold the dignity of the Upper House. State BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary also extended his best wishes, noting that the diverse candidate selection underscores the party's inclusive approach.
The biennial elections became necessary as the terms of 10 sitting Rajya Sabha members from the state are set to expire on November 25. The departing lawmakers include Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and BL Verma, alongside Arun Singh, Geeta Shakya, Neeraj Shekhar, Brijlal, Seema Dwivedi, Ram Gopal Yadav, and Ramji Gautam. Another seat previously held by former deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma has remained vacant since his September resignation following his appointment as the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The BJP's candidate roster spans various regional and social backgrounds, touching several major caste demographics. Among them, UP minister and OBC leader Dharampal Singh dedicated his victory to his late political mentor, former chief minister Kalyan Singh. Other BJP nominees include OBC wing chief Prakash Pal and Shruti Gangwar from the backward classes, Vidya Sagar Sonkar and Priyanka Rawat from the Scheduled Castes, Radhakant Ojha and Gopi Krishna Pandey from the Brahmin community, and Thakur leader Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan.
Earlier speculation suggested the Samajwadi Party might force a vote by introducing a third contender. However, party chief Akhilesh Yadav dispelled those rumors by declaring that the party's attention had shifted entirely toward the upcoming 403-member state assembly elections scheduled for early 2027. That decision left the field clear for all 10 candidates to secure their seats without opposition.