BJP has fielded Sardar Sohan Singh Thandal from the Chabbewal Constituency in Punjab and Suresh Awasthi from the Sishamau Constituency in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming by-elections. The move of the party came in order to make its strong presence in both states targeting major constituencies with experienced candidates.
Earlier on Thursday, the BJP announced seven candidates for the upcoming UP by-polls, with one of the key names being Anujesh Yadav, who will contest against Tej Pratap Singh Yadav in Karhal. Tej Pratap, a relative of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and the son-in-law of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, is also a former MP from Mainpuri.
Interestingly, Anujesh Yadav also belongs to the 'Yadav family' of UP and is related to Akhilesh Yadav. However, he and his wife Sandhya Yadav, Akhilesh's cousin and the twin sister of Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav, switched to the BJP in 2021.
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Tej Pratap’s grandfather, Ratan Singh Yadav, was the elder brother of Akhilesh’s father and Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Akhilesh vacated the Karhal Assembly seat after being elected to the Lok Sabha from Kannauj constituency.
The bypolls will take place in nine constituencies: Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Karhal (Mainpuri), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), Ghaziabad, Majhawan (Mirzapur), Sishamau (Kanpur), Khair (Aligarh), Phulpur (Prayagraj), and Kundarki (Moradabad).
Most seats were vacated as MLAs transitioned to Parliament, while the Sishamau seat opened after SP MLA Irfan Solanki was disqualified following a criminal conviction.
BJP Releases Three Candidates For Punjab By-Polls
Earlier on Tuesday, the BJP also revealed three candidates for the Punjab bypolls, including former state minister Manpreet Badal. By-elections will be held for four seats Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, and Barnala after their MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. Manpreet Singh Badal will contest from the Gidderbaha constituency, Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon from Dera Baba Nanak, and Kewal Singh Dhillon from Barnala.
Bypolls for both states are scheduled to be held on November 13 and results will be announced on November 23.