UP CM Yogi's Meeting with PM Modi Ahead of Rajya Sabha Elections Sparks Speculation
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Saturday. The meeting lasted for approximately 75 minutes. While no official details regarding the agenda were disclosed, the meeting took place ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Elections are due for 10 Rajya Sabha seats and 11 Legislative Council seats in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, the BJP holds eight of the 10 Rajya Sabha seats that are set to fall vacant. It is expected that the party will discuss its candidates as part of election preparations.
The BJP Rajya Sabha members whose terms are ending include Hardeep Singh Puri, Dinesh Sharma, Arun Singh, Brijlal, B.L. Verma, Neeraj Shekhar, Seema Dwivedi, and Geeta Shakya. Discussions are underway regarding granting another term to Puri, while a replacement for Sharma might be considered since he is currently serving as a Governor.
Names such as former Union Minister Smriti Irani and BJP General Secretary Harish Dwivedi are also being mentioned in political circles, although there has been no official confirmation regarding their candidacies.
It is expected that the BJP will take social, regional, and community representation into account while finalizing candidates for both houses. However, the party has not yet officially announced its list.
Voting for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats will take place on October 16, with the vote count scheduled for the same day. Voting for the 11 Legislative Council seats is scheduled for October 23.