The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) released its fifth list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, introducing some notable changes and reaffirmations. In a significant move, the party has nominated Srikala Singh, wife of the recently convicted former MP Dhananjay Singh, to contest from Jaunpur. Dhananjay Singh, a former MP known in political circles as ‘Purvanchal Bahubali,’ was sentenced last month to seven years in prison on charges stemming from a 2020 kidnapping and extortion case.
Additionally, the BSP has revised its candidate for the Mainpuri seat, replacing Gulshan Dev Shakya with Shiv Prasad Yadav. This change sets up a contest between Yadav, Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav, and BJP’s Jaiveer Singh, a current state government minister.
The party also announced its candidates for other key constituencies: Athar Jamal Lari will challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, while candidates like Muslim Khan and Chhotey Lal Gangwar will vie for the Budaun and Bareilly seats, respectively.
This strategic candidate revision follows the BSP’s performance in the 2019 elections where, despite the formation of an alliance with the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, the BSP emerged as the largest gainer within the coalition, securing 10 seats.
The upcoming elections present a critical test for the BSP as it aims to improve its standing and navigate the complex political landscape of Uttar Pradesh, where it faces strong opposition from both the BJP and the SP-led alliance.