New Delhi, September 3: The BJP on Sunday named former Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma as its candidate for the by-election to a Rajya Sabha seat from the state. The by-election, scheduled for September 15, was necessitated due to the death of incumbent MP Hardwar Dubey, who was also from the BJP. The term of the seat is till November 2026. Uttar Pradesh By-Elections 2023: BJP Announces Candidature of Former UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma as its Candidate for Rajya Sabha By-Polls.

Sharma's election is all but certain due to the strong majority the BJP enjoys in the state assembly. Like Dubey, he is also from the Brahmin community. Sharma was one of the two deputy chief ministers in the first term of the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government between 2017-22.