LUCKNOW, Oct. 23 -- A total of 152 candidates will contest 11 Uttar Pradesh legislative council seats, comprising five graduates' and six teachers' constituencies, on Friday, with the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) facing challenges from rebel and independent candidates across several seats. The SP has fielded two BJP rebels to capitalise on discontent within the ruling party, with the council polls coming ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.

The SP has fielded BJP rebel Sanjayan Tripathi from the Gorakhpur-Faizabad teachers' constituency and Akash Agarwal from the Agra graduates' constituency, seeking to capitalise on discontent within the ruling party.

The political stakes are reflected in chief minister Yogi Adi...