The world of the Socialist Party is one where candidates' fates can turn on a dime, with tickets being granted and revoked in rapid succession. From Moradabad, Rampur, to Meerut, the indecision within the party has been clear to all. And now, the latest is the buzz that even the recent candidate announcement in Kannauj might be reversed.
Tej Pratap Yadav, who hails from the influential Saifai family and is the son-in-law of RJD supremo Lalu Yadav, had recently been given the ticket to contest from Kannauj. There is strong speculation now that his candidacy might be revoked in favor of party leader Akhilesh Yadav stepping in. This reshuffling is seen as a tactical move by Akhilesh to not leave any stone unturned and to address any discontent within local organization structures or caste equation misalignments. Read on to learn about other candidates who have been replaced.
Could SP Change Candidate for Kannauj? Akhilesh Yadav might replace nephew Tej Pratap
Gautam Buddh Nagar's Game of Musical Chairs
In a surprising turn of events, SP replaced Dr. Mahendra Nagar with Rahul Awana, only to backtrack and reaffirm Dr. Nagar as their official Gautam Buddh Nagar candidate, setting the stage for a physician showdown with BJP's Mahesh Sharma.
Moradabad's Tug-of-War for Candidacy
The most challenging candidate selection for SP occurred in Moradabad. Here, current MP ST Hasan was initially fielded but faced opposition, resulting in Ruchi Veera's last-minute nomination.
Rampur's Uncertainty
Like Moradabad, SP grappled with their Rampur candidacy before nominating Maulana Muhibullah Nadvi, distancing themselves from close Azam Khan associate and previous by-election candidate Asim Raza.
Meerut's Double Shuffle
In Meerut, SP went through a strategy game, switching from Bhanu Pratap to Atul Pradhan before finally placing Sunita Verma as their candidate.
Budaun's Candidate Carousel
The coveted Budaun seat saw Dharmendra Yadav replaced by Shivpal Yadav before ultimately fielding Aditya Yadav, underscoring the internal dynamics of the Saifai clan within SP.
Mishrikh's Trilogy of Changes
SP continued its trend in Mishrikh by cycling through Ram Pal Rajvanshi, Manoj Rajvanshi, and Sangeeta Rajvanshi before settling on former MP Ram Shankar Bhargava.
Ballot Twists in Baghpat and Bijnor
In Jayant Chaudhary’s stronghold Baghpat and in Bijnor, SP switched candidates, replacing Manoj Chaudhary with Amar Pal Sharma and giving the nod to Deepak Saini over Yashvir Singh, respectively.
Candidate Update in Sultanpur
In Sultanpur, following Bhim Nishad's dismissal, Ram Bhuwal Nishad was anointed by SP, challenging BJP's Maneka Gandhi.
Candidate Change in Sambhal
Following incumbent MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq's passing, SP nominated his grandson Ziaur Rahman Barq in Sambhal.
