Upcoming Rajya Sabha Elections: What to Expect in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal

Election Announcement for Rajya Sabha Seats

New Delhi: The Election Commission has declared that elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal will take place on October 16.

This election will include 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand, with the current members' terms expiring on November 25. Additionally, a by-election will be held for one seat in West Bengal.

The official notification is set to be released on September 29, with nominations accepted until October 6, and the counting of votes scheduled for October 16.

Among those retiring from Uttar Pradesh are prominent BJP figures such as Arun Singh, Geeta Shakya, Neeraj Shekhar, Brijlal, B L Verma, Seema Dwivedi, and Hardeep Singh Puri, along with Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav and BSP's Ramji Gautam.

The seat previously held by Dinesh Sharma, former deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has been vacant since September 11 due to his new role as lieutenant governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In Uttarakhand, the term of BJP member Naresh Bansal is also concluding.

Of the 10 outgoing seats in Uttar Pradesh, eight are currently held by the BJP, while the Samajwadi Party and BSP each hold one. These elections are crucial as they precede the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections scheduled for next year.

Given the current assembly dynamics, the BJP-led coalition is anticipated to secure eight seats, while the Samajwadi Party is expected to win two.

This outcome may result in the BSP losing its representation in the Rajya Sabha, as it lacks the necessary numbers to retain Gautam's seat independently.

Following the passing of its only legislator, Uma Shankar Singh, in August, the BSP currently has no MLAs in Uttar Pradesh. In 2020, it also struggled to elect a Rajya Sabha member on its own. However, the BJP only nominated eight candidates for the ten available seats, allowing Ramji Gautam from the BSP to be elected unopposed after a Samajwadi Party-backed Independent's nomination was rejected, leading to allegations of a BJP-BSP alliance.

The BJP is also in a strong position to maintain its seat in Uttarakhand.

The by-election in West Bengal was prompted by the resignation of Rukmini Mallik, known as actor Koel Mallick, on July 16. The victor will complete the term until April 2, 2032.

With a solid majority in the West Bengal Assembly, the ruling BJP is poised to take the seat from the Trinamool Congress.