NEW DELHI: The BJP is set to have the numbers on its side in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, with the party-led alliance expected to win eight of the 10 seats going to polls in the state. The Samajwadi Party could take the remaining two seats, based on the current strength of parties in the assembly.The Election Commission on Tuesday announced polls for 12 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Voting, if required, will be held on October 16, with the results also to be declared the same day.The BJP is also expected to add one seat to its Rajya Sabha tally by winning the lone seat from West Bengal. The seat became vacant after actor Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel, resigned from the House. The Trinamool Congress had sent her to the Rajya Sabha before losing power in the assembly election held earlier this year.In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP-led alliance has around 290 MLAs, while the SP-Congress combine has about 103. A candidate needs around 37 votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat.The BJP can comfortably win seven seats, while the SP-Congress combine can secure two. The contest for the 10th seat could be closer, with the BJP-led alliance starting with around 31 votes against around 29 for the SP-Congress side.The polls could also mark the end of the BSP’s representation in Parliament. Mayawati’s party has no member in the Lok Sabha and its only MLA in Uttar Pradesh, Uma Shankar Singh, died in August. The term of BSP’s lone Rajya Sabha member, Ramji Gautam, ends in November.Gautam is among the nine Uttar Pradesh members whose terms are ending. The others are Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, BJP leaders Arun Singh, Geeta Shakya, Neeraj Shekhar, Brijlal, B L Verma and Seema Dwivedi, and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav.Puri’s continuation in the Union Cabinet will depend on whether the BJP nominates him for another Rajya Sabha term.
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The 10th Uttar Pradesh seat was held by former deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma. It became vacant earlier this month after Sharma resigned from the Rajya Sabha following his appointment as lieutenant governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.The BSP had managed to retain its Rajya Sabha presence in 2020 after the BJP fielded only eight candidates for 10 seats. The move allowed the BSP and SP to each elect one member unopposed.Gautam was elected unopposed after the nomination of an SP-backed Independent candidate was rejected. The SP had then alleged an understanding between the BJP and BSP.In Uttarakhand, BJP Rajya Sabha member Naresh Bansal’s term is ending. The BJP, which has a comfortable majority in the state assembly, is expected to retain the seat.The election notification will be issued on September 29. Candidates can file nominations till October 6. Polling and counting will take place on October 16, if required.
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