Parimal Nathwani's Son Dhanraj Nathwani Set to File Rajya Sabha Nomination From Uttar Pradesh on Samajwadi Party Mandate

In a high-stakes political twist ahead of the upcoming Upper House elections, corporate leader and Reliance Industries executive Dhanraj Nathwani is widely expected to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha on a Samajwadi Party (SP) mandate, sources said.

The political manoeuvre coincides with the Election Commission's schedule for 12 Rajya Sabha vacancies across three states, highlighted by 10 high-profile seats up for grabs in Uttar Pradesh. Polling for these seats is slated for October 16.

Dhanraj Nathwani is the son of prominent industrialist and serving fourth term in Rajya Sabha as Member of Parliament Parimal Nathwani. Professionally, Dhanraj serves as a key corporate leader within the Reliance ecosystem, holding the position of Group President at Reliance Industries and serving as a director in Reliance New Energy Limited.

The Arithmetic Behind the UP Battle

With 10 seats transitioning from Uttar Pradesh, the current party breakdown sees the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holding 8 seats, while the Samajwadi Party holds the remaining 2 outgoing slots.

Given the numerical strength in the state assembly—where a candidate requires 37 first-preference votes to secure a win—the ruling NDA holds a dominant position. However, the Samajwadi Party's move to field multiple candidates has injected intense competition into what would otherwise be a straightforward electoral math.

Heavyweights and Contenders in the Fray

As the nomination window progresses toward the October 6 deadline, party headquarters in Lucknow and New Delhi are buzzing with finalised panels and strategic lists:

• BJP Camp: Party deliberations led by top leadership have floated panels featuring prominent heavyweights. Speculation remains rife around high-profile figures such as former Union Minister Smriti Irani and leader Varun Gandhi, alongside other senior organisational figures, as the saffron party looks to balance regional and caste equations ahead of broader political milestones.
• Samajwadi Party Strategy: Alongside the buzz surrounding strategic corporate picks like Dhanraj Nathwani, the opposition camp is weighing veteran names like Ram Gopal Yadav and former bureaucrat Alok Ranjan, aiming to maximise its tally despite holding numbers for a tighter share.
  Scrutiny of the nominations is scheduled for October 7, with the final deadline for withdrawals set for October 9 before voting commences on October 16.