On Wednesday, the Samajwadi Party made a significant announcement by putting forward Tej Pratap Yadav as their candidate for the Kannauj seat. However, in a surprising turn of events, they have now opted to retract that decision. Instead, the party has decided to nominate its president, Akhilesh Yadav, for the Kannauj constituency.
The Samajwadi party’s official account took this announcement on X(formerly known as Twitter) that Akhilesh Yadav is gearing up to file his nomination papers on Thursday. This step marks a significant moment in the party’s campaigning strategy.
Kannauj has historically been a stronghold for the Samajwadi Party, but in 2019, the BJP secured victory in the constituency, marking a significant shift in the political landscape. The Samajwadi party’s influence in the region is highlighted by their CM’s success in the Lucknow seat during the 2000 bypoll, which he retained in both the 2004 and 2009 general elections. However, in 2012, he vacated the seat upon assuming the role of chief minister, with his wife taking over the Kannauj seat in an unopposed election. Dimple Yadav won the elections in 2014 but in 2019, the Yadav family had to give up the constituency seat after losing to BJP’s Subrat Pathak.
Just a few days ago, on Monday, the Samajwadi Party had declared the former MP Tej Pratap Yadav as their candidate. Tej Pratap Yadav is Akhilesh Yadav’s nephew and also the son-in-law of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad. He’s not only the grandson of Mulayam Yadav’s brother Ranveer but also won the Mainpuri seat during the 2014 elections.
Even though the party had already made its choice public, there were ongoing speculations and rumors about the possibility of the party’s president running for the seat himself. This speculation arose due to the pressure from the party’s local members.
Sources within the party have disclosed that there was reportedly some dissatisfaction among the Samajwadi Party members regarding Tej Pratap’s nomination. Many of them voiced a desire for the party’s leader to personally run for the seat instead. This internal discord sheds light on the complexities within the party and adds fuel to the ongoing political discussions.
When asked about the desire of Samajwadi Party workers in Kannauj for him to run for the seat, Akhilesh expressed confidence in securing a historic victory. He emphasized that the upcoming election would mark a turning point, with people rallying behind the INDIA bloc. Akhilesh believes that voters are determined to cast their ballots against the NDA, signaling a shift in political dynamics.
In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, voting for the Kannauj seat is scheduled for May 13, during the fourth phase of polling.
As tomorrow’s second phase of voting approaches in Uttar Pradesh, the future of candidates competing for several important constituency seats is uncertain. These constituencies include Amroha, Meerut, Mathura, Baghpat, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, and Bulandshahar. The outcome of this crucial phase will shape the future landscape of Uttar Pradesh politics, as voters across these regions cast their votes to determine their representatives.
Uttar Pradesh boasts a total of 80 parliamentary constituencies, and voting will span across all seven phases of the Lok Sabha election. With candidates from the NDA, the INDIA bloc, and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the mix, the state is anticipating an intense three-way competition.
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