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The 10 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha seats are being contested in the biennial election, with the terms of the sitting members ending on November 25.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. (Image: PTI)
The Samajwadi Party (SP) is set to field three candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, despite having the numbers to secure two seats on its own. The decision could turn the contest for the third seat into a closely watched battle for cross-voting.
The Election Commission of India has scheduled polling for October 16 for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Of these, 10 seats are from Uttar Pradesh.
UP arithmetic sets up contest
The 10 Uttar Pradesh seats are being contested in the biennial election, with the terms of the sitting members ending on November 25, 2026. Eight of the outgoing seats are currently held by the BJP, while one each is held by the SP and BSP.
Based on the present Assembly numbers, the BJP-led NDA is expected to secure around eight seats, while the SP has the numbers to secure two seats. The third SP candidate, however, would require support beyond the party’s own strength.
This makes the additional seat dependent on votes from outside the SP’s existing numbers. Recent reports on the UP Rajya Sabha arithmetic have also identified the 10th seat as the focus of the contest.
Extra votes become crucial
At A Glance
The Samajwadi Party (SP) will field three candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.
The Election Commission of India scheduled polling for October 16 for 12 Rajya Sabha seats.
Ten of these seats are from Uttar Pradesh.
Eight of the outgoing seats are currently held by the BJP, and one each by the SP and BSP.
The BJP-led NDA is expected to secure around eight seats based on current Assembly numbers.
With the SP putting up three candidates, the third candidate’s prospects will depend on how the numbers move during the election process.
The situation could therefore lead both the BJP and SP to seek support from legislators beyond their respective core numbers. The contest could involve negotiations over additional votes as parties work to secure the numbers required for their candidates.
The BJP currently holds eight of the 10 UP Rajya Sabha seats going to polls, while the SP and BSP hold one each.
Polls on October 16
The Election Commission has fixed September 29 as the date for issuing the notification. Candidates can file their nominations until October 6, while scrutiny will take place on October 7. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 9.
If required, voting will be held on October 16 from 9 am to 4 pm, followed by counting from 5 pm.
The October election covers 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and one in Uttarakhand, along with a by-election for one seat in West Bengal.
For the SP, the decision to field three candidates means the focus will extend beyond the two seats it can secure through its existing numbers. The third seat will depend on the availability and movement of additional votes as the nomination process and election campaign progress.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The Election Commission of India has scheduled polling for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal on October 16, 2026, with 10 of those seats located in Uttar Pradesh. The notification is set for September 29, and the nomination process runs until October 6. If necessary, voting will take place from 9 am to 4 pm.
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Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about nine years of experience in covering national politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and international affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As…Read More
September 28, 2026, 15:15 IST
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