Suspense on SP’s third candidate in Rajya Sabha elections, today is the last day of nomination
Lucknow. Political activity has intensified regarding the upcoming elections for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Tuesday, October 6, is the last date for filing nominations, and all eyes are fixed on the Samajwadi Party’s third candidate. While Prof. Ramgopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani have already filed their nominations on behalf of the party, indications suggest that preparations to field a third candidate are now complete.
The Samajwadi Party has not yet officially revealed the name of its third candidate. However, party leaders have hinted that the third candidate will file their nomination on Tuesday. SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand stated on Monday that the party’s third candidate would file the nomination on October 6 but declined to disclose the name. He claimed that the party has made the necessary political preparations for this move.
Discussions regarding the third candidate also took place at the Janeshwar Mishra Trust on Monday. Deliberations over potential names reportedly occurred in the presence of party leaders and MLAs. SP MLA Ravidas Mehrotra stated that MLAs had been summoned for the third candidate’s nomination process, and ten MLAs acting as proposers had already signed the nomination papers. This makes it almost certain that the Samajwadi Party is preparing to field a third candidate.
However, the identity of the third candidate remains a mystery. In political circles, the names of former minister Arvind Singh Gope and SP leader Rajpal Kashyap are being discussed as potential candidates. The final decision rests with party president Akhilesh Yadav. Until the party makes an official announcement, these names are being viewed merely as probable contenders.
The Samajwadi Party’s first candidate is Prof. Ramgopal Yadav, a long-time Rajya Sabha member and senior party leader. The second candidate is Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, a senior corporate executive associated with Reliance Industries. Both filed their nominations in the presence of SP President Akhilesh Yadav and other party leaders.
Given the current composition of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the BJP alliance is considered to be in a strong position for eight Rajya Sabha seats, while the SP-Congress alliance is seen as strong for two seats. The BJP-led alliance holds 288 seats, whereas the SP-Congress camp reportedly has 103 MLAs—101 of whom belong to the Samajwadi Party. Consequently, the question of numerical strength regarding the SP’s third candidate has become a topic of discussion.
If the SP fields a third candidate and the BJP retains its eight declared nominees, the total number of candidates for the 10 available seats would rise to 11. In such a scenario, an election would be inevitable, and the contest could hinge on surplus votes, second-preference votes, and potential cross-voting. Since Rajya Sabha elections are conducted using the system of proportional representation and the single transferable vote, every MLA’s vote and preference will be crucial.
The BJP has announced eight candidates for these seats in Uttar Pradesh. The party’s list includes Dharmpal Singh, Shruti Gangwar, Radhakant Ojha, Priyanka Singh Rawat, Prakash Pal, Vidyasagar Sonkar, Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan, and Gopi Krishna Pandey. BJP candidates are also scheduled to file their nominations on Tuesday.
Strategic secrecy is being maintained within the Samajwadi Party regarding its third candidate. SP President Akhilesh Yadav has previously stated that a third candidate would be fielded only after the necessary numbers were secured. However, recent statements by party leaders and information regarding the signatures of proposing MLAs have significantly increased the likelihood of a third candidate entering the fray.
A major aspect of the SP’s strategy involves garnering surplus votes. Party leaders have claimed that some MLAs from other camps might support their candidate. Conversely, BJP leaders have expressed confidence in the victory of their candidates. These claims from both sides are political statements, and the actual situation will only become clear on the day of voting. According to the election schedule, October 6 is the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on October 7, and candidates may withdraw their nominations by October 9. If necessary, polling will be held on October 16 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with vote counting taking place on the same day.
Nine seats in Uttar Pradesh are falling vacant due to the expiry of the incumbent members’ terms on November 25, while the tenth seat became vacant after former Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma resigned following his appointment as the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Against this backdrop, Tuesday is expected to clarify the picture regarding the Rajya Sabha elections. The greatest curiosity lies in whom the Samajwadi Party fields as its third candidate and whether the election turns into a direct contest.