BJP Drops Ministers Puri and Verma in Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Candidate List

The ruling party released its list of eight nominees for the upcoming Upper House polls from Uttar Pradesh, choosing not to renominate Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and B L Verma as their current terms conclude next month. Party insiders point to upcoming changes within the Union Cabinet as the reason behind these exclusions.

Candidate Breakdown

The selection features three candidates from Other Backward Classes, two Brahmins, two Dalits, and one Thakur nominee. State Cabinet minister and Aonla MLA Dharampal Singh secures a spot among the OBC choices, hailing from the Lodh community and viewed as a substitute for Verma. The Lodh voter base holds strong sway in the Rohilkhand and Bundelkhand areas, traditionally backing the party since the era of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh. The remaining two OBC tickets go to state OBC Morcha chief Prakash Pal and Shruti Gangwar, whose father Santosh Gangwar serves as the Jharkhand Governor. Lawyer Radha Kant Ojha and youth-wing veteran Gopi Krishna Pandey represent the Brahmin community. Dalit nominees comprise former Member of Parliament Priyanka Singh Rawat and former Member of Legislative Council Vidya Sagar Sonkar. Agra leader Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan rounds out the list as the lone Thakur candidate.

Context

Rajya Sabha selections in states like Uttar Pradesh are carefully balanced across social communities and regional power bases to maintain electoral support ahead of future political contests. Cabinet adjustments often prompt a shuffling of senior leaders between parliamentary responsibilities and organisational duties.