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BJP Names Dalit Leader Dinesh Arya as Uttarakhand Rajya Sabha Candidate
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News18•04-10-2026, 15:47
BJP Names Dalit Leader Dinesh Arya as Uttarakhand Rajya Sabha Candidate
- •Dinesh Arya, a senior Uttarakhand leader, has been nominated by the BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from the state.
- •Arya currently serves as Minister of State rank and vice-chairperson of the State-Level Drinking Water Monitoring Council in the Uttarakhand government.
- •His extensive political journey includes decades of association with the RSS and ABVP, and various organizational roles within the BJP, including Nainital district president and national secretary of the Scheduled Caste Morcha.
- •Known for his grassroots connect and accessibility, Arya's nomination brings an important Scheduled Caste face into the BJP’s Rajya Sabha line-up from Uttarakhand, especially after recent allegations against the party.
- •The election is scheduled for October 16, and with 47 MLAs, the BJP is well-positioned to secure the seat, adding a Scheduled Caste representative alongside existing OBC and Brahmin leaders in the Rajya Sabha from Uttarakhand.
Key Questions Answered
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) named senior Uttarakhand leader and Minister of State rank holder Dinesh Arya as its Rajya Sabha candidate from the state.
The election to fill the Rajya Sabha seat, currently held by outgoing BJP MP Naresh Bansal whose term ends on November 25, 2026, is scheduled for October 16.
A candidate needs 37 votes to win one Rajya Sabha seat in the state, where the BJP currently holds 47 MLAs in the Uttarakhand Assembly.
