SP's Ram Gopal Yadav, Nathwani file Rajya Sabha nominations from UP ahead of Oct 16 polls
Synopsis
With Rajya Sabha polls just weeks away, the SP's nomination of Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Nathwani has immediately drawn fire over the party's own PDA formula — a caste-and-minority coalition strategy that critics say the candidate list visibly contradicts. Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar's public challenge puts Akhilesh Yadav on the back foot ahead of the 16 October vote.
Key Takeaways
Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani filed Rajya Sabha nomination papers from Uttar Pradesh on 30 September 2026 .
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and senior leader Shivpal Yadav were present at the filing.
Elections for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in UP and 1 in Uttarakhand are scheduled for 16 October ; terms of sitting members end on 25 November .
UP Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar publicly questioned whether SP's nominees reflect its PDA (backward classes, Dalits, minorities) strategy.
Rajbhar also cautioned the SP against risking its two near-certain seats by fielding a third candidate.
Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, filed their nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, ahead of biennial elections for 10 Upper House seats in the state. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and senior party leader Shivpal Yadav were present at the nomination filing.
Background: Elections and Timeline
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on 22 September that elections for 11 Rajya Sabha seats — 10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand — will be held on 16 October. The terms of the sitting members for these seats are scheduled to end on 25 November. A bypoll for a Rajya Sabha seat in West Bengal has also been announced alongside these elections.
Opposition's PDA Challenge
Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar sharply criticised the SP's candidate selection, targeting Akhilesh Yadav's PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak — backward classes, Dalits, and minorities) political strategy. In a post on social media, Rajbhar questioned whether the SP's nominees truly reflect its stated PDA commitments. 'Akhilesh ji, I have heard that you are going to field three candidates for the Rajya Sabha. Tell me, will all three be from your PDA or not?' Rajbhar said.
Rajbhar pointed to Ram Gopal Yadav as the first nominee and asked how the remaining candidates fit into the PDA framework, also alleging that the SP's selections could favour family members, wealthy individuals, and those with criminal allegations against them.
What Rajbhar Said About Minority Representation
The minister further asserted that members of backward classes, Dalit communities, and Muslim communities would seek clarity on the SP's strategy for Rajya Sabha candidature. Notably, Rajbhar also cautioned Akhilesh Yadav against overreaching by attempting to secure a third seat at the risk of losing even the two the party may otherwise win.
What Happens Next
With nominations filed and the election date set for 16 October, political manoeuvring among parties in Uttar Pradesh's legislative assembly — whose members vote in these elections — is expected to intensify. The SP's final tally of candidates and their profiles will likely remain a flashpoint in the state's caste and coalition politics through polling day.
Point of View
But Upper House seats historically go to loyalists, family allies, and wealthy nominees — a pattern that sits awkwardly with a Dalit-backward-minority pitch. Rajbhar's very public challenge is less about the Rajya Sabha outcome and more about positioning his own constituency ahead of the next UP assembly cycle. Akhilesh Yadav now faces a two-front squeeze: justify the nominees to his PDA voter base or quietly absorb the criticism. Neither option is cost-free.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the SP candidates for the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh?
The Samajwadi Party has fielded Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as its nominees for the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. Both leaders filed their nomination papers on 30 September 2026 in the presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav.
When is the Rajya Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh in 2026?
The Election Commission of India has scheduled the Rajya Sabha elections for 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh on 16 October 2026. The terms of the sitting members for these seats are set to expire on 25 November 2026.
What is the PDA formula and why is it controversial in the SP's Rajya Sabha picks?
PDA stands for Pichhda (backward classes), Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (minorities) — a coalition identity that Akhilesh Yadav has championed as the SP's core voter base. UP Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has alleged that the SP's Rajya Sabha nominees do not reflect this formula, questioning whether backward classes, Dalits, and Muslims are adequately represented in the selections.
What did Om Prakash Rajbhar say about the SP candidates?
Minister Rajbhar, in a social media post, challenged Akhilesh Yadav to clarify whether all three of SP's proposed Rajya Sabha candidates would belong to the PDA categories. He also alleged the party's choices could favour family members, wealthy individuals, and persons facing criminal allegations, and cautioned against contesting a third seat at the risk of losing the safer two.
Are there Rajya Sabha elections in other states alongside Uttar Pradesh?
Yes. The Election Commission announced polls for 11 Rajya Sabha seats — 10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand — on 16 October 2026. A separate bypoll for a Rajya Sabha seat in West Bengal has also been announced concurrently.
