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BJP drops eight sitting Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh

The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided not to renominate eight incumbent Rajya Sabha MPs from Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming polls, including Union Minister Hardeep Puri. The move signals significant changes in the party's upper house representation from the state.

LSN India · 5 October 2026

BJP drops eight sitting Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh

The BJP's decision to drop the eight sitting members represents a notable shift in the party's Rajya Sabha strategy for Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. Among those not renominated is Hardeep Puri, a Union Minister whose exclusion marks a significant development within the party's parliamentary ranks.

Rajya Sabha elections are held periodically as member terms expire, with states electing representatives based on their legislative assembly strength. The non-renewal of sitting members typically reflects either party reorganization efforts or performance evaluations ahead of electoral cycles.

The exact composition of the party's new slate for the upper house from Uttar Pradesh is expected to be finalized through established party procedures. The decision underscores the BJP's ongoing efforts to refresh its parliamentary leadership and organizational structure in the state.

Uttar Pradesh holds strategic importance in Indian politics and is a key battleground for major national parties. The BJP's decision on its Rajya Sabha representation from the state will likely influence broader political calculations in the coming months.