Uttar Pradesh’s political battle is heating up ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with the October 16 Rajya Sabha contest emerging as an early test of strength between the BJP and Samajwadi Party.Akhilesh Yadav has now signalled that the SP is stepping back from its earlier plan to field a third candidate, declaring that the party’s focus is not on three Rajya Sabha seats but on all 403 Assembly constituencies.The BJP, meanwhile, has announced eight candidates, including several OBC and Dalit leaders. The party has dropped all eight outgoing members, making the Rajya Sabha lineup an important part of its broader strategy for the 2027 UP polls.With cross-voting and MLA loyalty expected to remain key issues, the October 16 contest could offer an early indication of the political equations taking shape ahead of the big Uttar Pradesh Assembly battle. n18oc_indian18oc_brass-tacksNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube