New Delhi: In a new political development in the poll bound state of Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party’s ally Apna Dal has fielded a Muslim candidate, Haider Ali Khan from Suar constituency in Rampur district.
With this Haider has become first Muslim candidate since 2014 who has been camped by an ally of the BJP. The official Twitter handle of Apna Dal gave out the information that he will contest the election from the Suar Assembly seat. Apna Dal on Sunday had released its first list of candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election.
The 36 year old Essex University graduate, Haider was given a ticket from the seat by the Congress party on January 13. Later that night reports surfaced that he met Apna Dal chief Anupriya Patel after which he crossed over to Patel’s party.
Haider Ali Khan has been fielded against Samajwadi Party’s Abdullah Azam.
Abdullah Azam is the son of senior SP leader and Member of Parliament Azam Khan
Haider’s father Nawab Kazim Ali Khan was a four time MLA from Suar constituency. He contested from the constituency on BSP’s ticket in 2017 but lost to Abdullah Azam. On a complaint made by Kazim against Abdullah, the latter lost his assembly membership on ground of discrepancies in his election affidavit.
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For the first time Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will also be contesting for the upcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. He will be contesting from his homeground seat of Karhal in Mainpuri district. Yadav is currently a Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha from Azamgarh seat.
Election for 403 assembly constituency of Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases with the first phase commencing on February 10. Second phase of the election will be held on February 14, third phase on February 20, fourth phase on February 23, fifth phase on February 27, sixth phase on March 3 and seventh and last phase on March 7.
The counting of votes will take place on March 10.