India, Oct. 5 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced eight candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, opting for a careful caste and regional balance as it seeks to win an eighth seat in the October 16 contest.

The list, however, leaves out several names that had been doing the rounds, including Union Minister Hardeep Puri, Union Minister of State BL Verma and former Union Minister Smriti Irani.

The absence of Hardeep Puri, who was widely expected to be renominated from Uttar Pradesh, could also point to a possible reshuffle in the Union government.

BJP's eight candidates

The BJP's candidates are state minister Dharampal Singh, lawyer Radhakant Ojha, UP BJP OBC Morcha president Prakash Pal, former M...