The Uttar Pradesh political arena is abuzz with the constant reshuffles in the Samajwadi Party's (SP) candidate list. Just two days ago, Tej Pratap Yadav, a member of the influential Saifai family and nephew of Akhilesh Yadav, was announced as the nominee for the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat. He was scheduled to file his nomination on April 24, but now his candidacy has been deferred. Surprisingly, SP has decided to field a new candidate for Kannauj.
Tej Pratap Yadav's place will now be taken by none other than SP chief Akhilesh Yadav himself. Ramgopal Yadav, SP General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, confirmed Akhilesh's candidature. He declared that Akhilesh Yadav will contest from Kannauj, filing his nomination on the afternoon of April 25.
Previously, SP had replaced candidates in Badaun, Meerut, Moradabad, Misrikh and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Now, questions are being raised about the decision-making process in Kannauj. Observers are asking why Akhilesh Yadav needs to enter the electoral battle for the Kannauj seat and why Tej Pratap's candidacy was withdrawn within 48 hours of the announcement.
Why the need to replace Tej Pratap?
SP faced local opposition following the announcement of Tej Pratap Yadav as the candidate for the Kannauj seat. The party's local unit was not in favor of the decision, which prompted a delegation of SP leaders to meet with Akhilesh Yadav. They expressed the workers' dissatisfaction and requested that Akhilesh run for election himself. Local supporters argued that a large part of the electorate wasn't familiar with Tej Pratap, and the local leaders wanted to ensure that the party's position in Kannauj remained strong.
Why is Akhilesh Yadav taking the field?
Kannauj, once the bastion of the Samajwadi Party, holds a significant place in the party's legacy. It has been the stronghold of the Mulayam family with Mulayam Singh Yadav and his kin, including Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav, representing it over the years. Following Dimple Yadav's defeat in 2019, Akhilesh has become increasingly active in the area. With the constituency's rich history and his personal track record of three consecutive wins, Akhilesh Yadav has emerged as the formidable choice to reclaim Kannauj for the SP.
What's at stake in the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat?
Kannauj holds a considerable percentage of Yadav and Muslim voters, making it a traditionally favorable seat for SP. With approximately 18 million voters, including nearly the same percentage of Yadav and Muslim populations and a significant Brahmin electorate, the constituency's demographics have historically aligned with SP's voter base. The party aims to consolidate these voter groups as well as reach out to other castes and communities in a bid to regain control of this crucial seat.
