As the Election Commission of India announced the dates of Lok Sabha election across the country, the political environment in the country has just flared up with fervent speculations, announcements, and possible candidates.
Uttar Pradesh is the state that holds the highest number of Lok Sabha seats in India and plays a pivotal role in setting the mandate. Political power plays and speculations have been rife in the state for several months. As the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party had announced an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha seats for the state, the names of candidates in key Lok Sabha constituencies were being speculated.
Recently, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had announced that his wife Dimple Yadav will contest again from the Kannauj seat.
On the occasion of #InternationalWomensDay the Samajwadi Party reaffirms it’s commitment to equality for all and is proud to announce some of its women candidates for the #2019Election. #HappyWomensDay pic.twitter.com/Z7HwfTXzsw
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 8, 2019
3 women candidates were announced on the occasion of international women’s day. Dimple Yadav from Kannauj, Purvi Verma from Khiri and Usha Verma from Hardoi.
Apart from these candidates, the party had announced that Dharmendra Yadav will contest from Badaun, Akshay Yadav, the son of SP General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav from Firozabad, Shabbir Balmiki from Bahraich, Bhailal Kol from Robertsganj and Kamlesh Katheria from Itawa.
In a significant change, it was also announced that SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will contest the Lok Sabha election from Mainpuri this time.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Mulayam Singh Yadav had won from both Mainpuri and Azamgarh seats. He had later resigned from the Mainpuri seat which was represented by another Yadav family member Tej Pratap Teju.
After the announcement, it is being reported that Akhilesh himself will contest from the Azamgarh seat.
Akhilesh Yadav has contested and won from the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in the past. However, at present, he is neither an MP nor an MLA. It is being reported that Akhilesh will contest from Azamgarh to send the signal that he is the true leader of SP and the Mulayam’s heir. Azamgarh has a significant Dalit, Muslim and Yadav voters and is considered an SP bastion.
