BJP announces 7 candidates for UP bypolls, 2 more names yet to be decided

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declared its candidates for seven of the nine assembly seats up for by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, scheduled for November 13. Among the key nominations is Anujesh Yadav, who will contest the Karhal seat, previously held by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. The vacancy arose after Yadav secured a seat in the Lok Sabha from Kannauj in the recent parliamentary elections, making this by-election a significant opportunity for both parties.

In addition to Karhal, the BJP has nominated Ramveer Singh Thakur for the Kudarki seat, Sanjeev Sharma for Ghaziabad, Surendra Diler for Khair, and Deepak Patel for Phulpur. Dharmraj Nishad is set to contest in Katehari, while Suchismita Maurya has been selected for the Majhawan assembly seat. This strategic lineup reflects the BJP's intent to strengthen its hold in Uttar Pradesh amid increasing competition from the opposition.

The Election Commission has announced that the last date for filing nominations is October 25, with the counting of votes taking place on November 23. The SP has already announced its candidates for all nine contested seats, emphasizing their traditional election symbol, the 'cycle,' as they aim to reclaim constituencies previously lost to the BJP during the last assembly elections.

In the 2022 assembly polls, the SP secured several key seats, including Sisamau, Katehari, and Karhal, while the BJP achieved victories in Phulpur, Ghaziabad, and Khair. Eight of the contested seats became vacant as their respective MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha, while the Sisamau seat was vacated following the disqualification of SP MLA Irfan Solanki due to a criminal conviction. This reshuffling has made the upcoming by-elections critical for both parties.

BJP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak expressed optimism about the party's performance in the upcoming polls, stating that they expect to win all nine assembly seats. He attributed this confidence to public approval of the policies implemented by Prime Minister Modi and improvements in law and order within the state.