The Samajwadi Party has announced Professor Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. The two candidates subsequently filed their nomination papers on Wednesday, September 30, in the presence of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.
The announcement marks the Samajwadi Party’s formal participation in the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha. The Election Commission has scheduled polling for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and one seat in Uttarakhand on October 16, 2026. The terms of several sitting members from the two states are scheduled to end on November 25.
Ram Gopal Yadav is a senior Samajwadi Party leader and has represented the party in the Rajya Sabha for several terms. His nomination gives him the opportunity to continue his representation in the Upper House. According to reports, the party’s legislators had also gathered to complete the formalities associated with his nomination before the announcement of the final candidate list.
The second candidate is Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani. The Samajwadi Party announced him alongside Ram Gopal Yadav as its second nominee from Uttar Pradesh. The party formally communicated the nomination and later proceeded with the filing of nomination papers.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar commented on the Samajwadi Party’s candidate selection before the nomination filing. In a statement reported by several media organisations, Rajbhar questioned whether the candidates represented the Samajwadi Party’s stated PDA framework, referring to the party’s emphasis on backward classes, Dalits and minorities. His remarks were political criticism of the Samajwadi Party’s choice of candidates and should be understood in that context.
Rajbhar also referred to the possibility of the Samajwadi Party fielding a third candidate and cautioned the party about the electoral arithmetic involved in the Rajya Sabha contest. The Samajwadi Party has so far publicly announced Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as its candidates. Reports have also discussed the possibility of another candidate, but the final position depends on the nominations submitted within the official election schedule.
The Election Commission issued the notification for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections on September 29. According to the announced schedule, nominations began on September 29, the last date for filing nominations is October 6, scrutiny is scheduled for October 7, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 9. Polling is scheduled for October 16 from 9 am to 4 pm, followed by counting on the same day.
The Uttar Pradesh contest involves 10 Rajya Sabha seats. The seats are becoming vacant because the terms of the current members are ending, while one additional vacancy arose following the resignation of former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma after his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The election process is based on the strength of political parties and alliances in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Reports have discussed the current numerical position of different parties and the number of seats they may be able to secure. However, the final result will depend on the candidates who remain in the contest after the nomination and withdrawal stages are completed.
The Samajwadi Party’s latest nominations also come against the background of its earlier criticism of electoral procedures. Party president Akhilesh Yadav has previously alleged that voters supporting the Samajwadi Party were removed from electoral rolls during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Those statements were allegations made by the party leadership and are separate from the current Rajya Sabha nomination process.
With the nomination papers now filed by Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, attention will turn to the remaining nomination process. The Election Commission will scrutinise the nomination papers on October 7. Candidates will then have an opportunity to withdraw their nominations until October 9.
If the number of valid candidates exceeds the number of available seats, voting will take place on October 16. If the number of candidates is within the available seats after the withdrawal deadline, the outcome will be determined according to the applicable election procedure.
The Samajwadi Party’s announcement therefore represents an important stage in the formal Rajya Sabha election process in Uttar Pradesh. The final contest will become clearer after all nominations are filed, scrutinised and, where applicable, withdrawn.
