Akhilesh Yadav’s surprise Rajya Sabha pick: Reliance Executive Dhanraj Nathwani gets SP ticket
Babushahi Bureau
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), September 30, 2026: The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday named Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani, a senior Reliance Industries executive and sports administrator, as its second candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh.
Nathwani’s nomination came as a surprise after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had indicated that the party would field an unexpected candidate for the Upper House. He will contest alongside veteran SP leader and party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav.
Nathwani is Group President of Reliance Industries and has held responsibilities covering areas including corporate affairs, finance, human resources and corporate social responsibility. He is also associated with the management of Reliance’s manufacturing operations in Gujarat.
He is widely described in media reports as being close to the Ambani family. Nathwani also serves as president of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), having succeeded Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the post in 2022.
Nathwani and Ram Gopal Yadav filed their nomination papers in Lucknow on Wednesday in the presence of Akhilesh Yadav and other party leaders.
Explaining the choice, Akhilesh Yadav said the party wanted to bring new voices into national politics and strengthen its engagement with the corporate and business sectors. The Indian Express reported that Yadav described Nathwani’s entry as part of an effort to connect with the corporate world and bring a younger generation into the Rajya Sabha.
Nathwani’s entry into electoral politics also brings attention to his family’s political background. His father, Parimal Nathwani, is a Reliance Industries executive and a Rajya Sabha member who has received support from different political parties during his parliamentary career.
The Rajya Sabha nominations come ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the SP stepping up its organisational and political preparations in the state.