Senior BJP leader Smriti Irani could enter the Union Cabinet, and the party is planning to send her to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, according to local media reports. Irani lost to Congress’s Kishori Lal Sharma in Amethi during the 2024 general elections.
The election process for the state's 10 Rajya Sabha seats begins on Wednesday. Of the 10 seats, the BJP currently holds eight, while the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the BSP hold one each. This time, however, the seats will be divided between the BJP and the SP with the end of the tenure of BSP's lone Rajya Sabha MP, Ramji Gautam.
With Dinesh Sharma's appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar, there will be a vacancy, and the biggest draw for the party in this entire exercise remains former Union Minister Smriti Irani. Despite the 2024 defeat, the party kept her active on the national stage.
Now, whispers are that she will be sent to the Upper House or even fielded in a key role in the 2027 UP Assembly elections. Irani’s name has come up along with that of Harish Dwivedi, who became national general secretary alongside her. However, her prior experience in the Central cabinet could favour her candidature.
Political observers believe that whether the party leadership chooses to utilise Smriti Irani's outspoken stance on the national stage or in state politics will be a key decision.
The BJP is also looking for new faces to replace Geeta Shakya and Seema Dwivedi. As per reports, several candidates are in the race, including Mamtesh Shakya, who hails from the OBC category like Shakya. Another name doing the rounds is Prakash Pal, the state president of the party's OBC front. The BJP’s focus on ensuring social alignment has brought Dalit leader Vidyasagar’s name to the fore.
The BJP's state unit will brainstorm potential candidates and prepare a panel. A core committee meeting is being held on Tuesday, attended by senior leaders, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, State President Bhupendra Chaudhary, and organisation general secretary Dharampal Singh.
The Central Election Committee will then finalise the names submitted by the state. This meeting will be held in Delhi, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the BJP's National President. The official announcement of the candidates is expected in the first week of October 2026.
