The nomination process begins on Tuesday. The BJP is likely to field national general secretaries Smriti Irani and Harish Dwivedi in the coming Rajya Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh. Ten seats in the state are up for election on October 16 and chances are that the Samajwadi Party and the BJP could face off over the tenth seat.
Several other names are also being discussed, including Varun Gandhi, Sanjeev Baliyan, and Satyapal Singh, sources told NDTV.
The BJP is certain to win seven seats. But keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections, the party is considering pushing for an eighth, leaving the field wide open for cross-voting.
In addition, it may also give tickets to Jats, Rajputs, OBCs, and minorities. The terms of current OBC MPs Geeta Shakya and BL Verma are ending. Verma is a minister at the Centre, so he could be re-elected to the Rajya Sabha. There is also talk of Geeta Shakya being re-elected. The names of Prakash Pal, president of the state BJP OBC Morcha, and Rekha Verma are also being discussed. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s term is also ending. In view of next year’s assembly elections in Punjab, there is talk of sending him back to the Rajya Sabha. There is also talk of replacing Dalit leader Brijlal with a younger Dalit leader. Former minister Sanjeev Baliyan and former MP Satyapal Singh are being discussed as Jat leaders. Varun Gandhi, Suresh Rana, Amit Malviya, and Rajbir Singh are also being considered. There is talk that current MPs Neeraj Shekhar and Arun Singh may be asked to contest the assembly elections. For the Samajwadi Party, a third seat is a long shot in comparison with the BJP.
The party has 101 MLAs. Two Congress MLAs are also with it, bringing the total to 103.
Sources said the party may nominate national general secretaries Smriti Irani and Harish Dwivedi as candidates. Sources said the BJP will finalise the names of candidates with assembly elections in mind.
