The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Akhilesh Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, has filed his nomination from Kannauj for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, a constituency from which he first entered the electoral arena. This decision was made public on Wednesday evening by the Samajwadi Party (SP) via social media platform X, despite expectations that his nephew, Tej Pratap Yadav, would be the nominee.
Kannauj has been a stronghold for the SP, securing victories continuously from 1998 to 2014. The party’s decision to nominate Akhilesh Yadav reflects a strategic move aimed at reclaiming and strengthening its historical ties to the constituency. This is part of a broader strategy by the SP, which has been actively revising its candidate list across at least 10 seats, reflecting the dynamic political tactics employed this election cycle.
According to party insiders, these changes are driven by district-level surveys assessing candidates’ acceptability and popularity. The SP’s strategy also involves evaluating local leadership pressure and the ground reality versus public perception, as Akhilesh Yadav noted in his discussion with THE WEEK.
The selection dilemma is compounded by a limited pool of ‘believable’ party leaders following numerous desertions, and concerns about potential actions from investigative agencies, which also affect other parties like the BSP.
The SP aims to improve upon its disappointing performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where it secured only five seats, mirroring its previous electoral results but with a significant drop in vote share. By fielding strong candidates like Akhilesh Yadav in key constituencies, the party hopes to stabilize its performance even in less favorable conditions.
Kannauj not only represents a strategic choice but also holds personal significance for Yadav. His wife, Dimple Yadav, won the seat in a 2012 by-election and again in the 2014 general elections. Her loss in 2019 to BJP candidate Subrat Pathak was a significant personal and political setback, making this election particularly symbolic for the Yadav family as they seek to regain their foothold in this pivotal constituency.