Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Elections: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its list of candidates for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, dropping Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of State BL Verma.

Both leaders were elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in November 2020, and their six-year terms are set to expire next month. The decision not to re-nominate either leader has fueled expectations of an upcoming Union Cabinet reshuffle.

Under Article 75(5) of the Indian Constitution, a Union Minister must hold a seat in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha to remain in office. Because both Puri and Verma will complete their terms in November without new nominations from Uttar Pradesh, maintaining their ministerial posts would require securing a parliamentary seat through another state election or a vacancy.

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About Hardeep Singh Puri And BL Verma

Hardeep Singh Puri was first elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in January 2018 in a bypoll following the resignation of Manohar Parrikar, and was re-elected in November 2020. He assumed charge as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas when the third Modi government took office in June 2024.

BL Verma was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in November 2020 and was subsequently appointed a Minister of State. In June 2024, he was appointed as MoS in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, as well as the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Union Cabinet Reshuffle

Discussion surrounding a Union Cabinet reshuffle has gathered momentum in recent months, with 12 open positions currently available. According to constitutional provisions, the Council of Ministers can have up to 81 members, but the total currently stands at 69.

Possibilities of a union cabinet reshuffle are being watched closely ahead of state assembly elections, including in Uttar Pradesh.

Following the party's "one person, one role" norm, several leaders have recently been assigned organisational responsibilities rather than government portfolios, including figures like Smriti Irani, Vinod Tawde, Satish Poonia, and Tarun Chugh. Potential portfolio realignments are also being evaluated, with performance metrics and age demographics expected to influence central decisions, NDTV reported.

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A Look At Key Ministerial Vacancies In Last 6 Months

The omission of Puri and Verma follows a series of recent ministerial departures and organisational realignments in the central ministry:

  • July 25, 2026 (Dharmendra Pradhan): Resigned as Minister of Education following widespread student protests over the NEET examination paper leak scandal.
  • July 24, 2026 (Ravneet Singh Bittu): Resigned as Minister of State for Railways & Food Processing before planned leadership realignments.
  • June 21, 2026 (George Kurian): Stepped down as MoS for Minority Affairs, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying following the completion of his Rajya Sabha tenure without immediate re-nomination.
  • Mid-2026 (Harsh Malhotra): Divested of his ministerial duties to comply with the BJP's "one person, one post" policy after taking charge as Delhi BJP President.
  • Mid-2026 (Pankaj Chowdhury): Appointed as the Uttar Pradesh BJP President to strengthen the state party organisation while continuing his role as Union MoS for Finance.