LS polls: SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav, Ponam Sinha and Maneka Gandhi to file nominations today

In Azamgarh, BJP has fielded Bhojpuri singer Dinesh Lal Yadav, who will be fighting against Akhilesh. Known as Nirauha among his supporters, the 40-year-old is also an actor and a television presenter.

Akhilesh Yadav (Source: PTI)

New Delhi: As the polling for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections began on Thursday, Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav is set to file his nomination from Azamgarh seat in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh is also set to address a public meeting in Baitholi village after filing his nominations. In Azamgarh, BJP has fielded Bhojpuri singer Dinesh Lal Yadav, who will be fighting against Akhilesh.  Known as Nirauha among his supporters, the 40-year-old is also an actor and a television presenter. Besides Yadav, The Samajwadi Party Wednesday fielded actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha's wife Poonam Sinha as its Lok Sabha candidate from Lucknow, the constituency where the BJP has fielded Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Poonam Sinha will also be filing his nomination on Thursday. "After due deliberations with the party leaders, it has been decided that Poonam Sinha will be the party nominee from Lucknow seat," Yadav told reporters here. BJP leader and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi will also be filing her nominations on Thursfday. Maneka is contesting the polls from Sultanpur. Maneka’s nomination comes after the BJP leader made another controversial statement in a rally in Sultanpur. She announced the ABCD category system to demarcate voters and accordingly reward them after the elections. According to Maneka Gandhi's proposed idea, those villages which cast 80 per cent votes to the BJP will be under category A. Those which cast 60 per cent votes in favour of BJP will be category B.