Lucknow, Oct. 5 -- The Rajya Sabha contest in Uttar Pradesh has entered a crucial competitive phase with both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) keeping their cards close to their chest, watching each other and waiting to see the other's next move before revealing their own strategy for fielding additional candidates.

With nominations closing on October 6 and voting scheduled for October 16, the next 48 hours are expected to be vital.

The SP has already announced two candidates -party veteran Ram Gopal Yadav and Reliance Industries Group president Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, who are set to comfortably get elected based on the party's numerical strength in the Uttar Pradesh assembly.

The party, however, is weigh...