After stellar performance in the last Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party is treading cautiously for the by-elections to 10 Uttar Pradesh assembly seats.
The SP had won 37 Lok Sabha seats in the elections that concluded in early June this year.
The SP is working on multiple options in selection of candidates for the bypolls to 10 assembly seats. In its strategy for the bypolls, the SP has factored in the signals of firm resolve of winning all 10 seats emanating from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already completed the first round of preparations for the next political battle by constituting committees comprising ministers for each of the 10 assembly constituencies. In each committee three ministers have been entrusted with the responsibility of supervising the campaign, winning the trust of the electorate and fighting the false narrative of scrapping of Constitution and reservation spread by the opposition during the Lok Sabha elections. The ministers have been particularly asked to focus on social media for busting the fake narrative spread by the opposition.
Sources in the SP said the party was not ready to take risks by bringing new faces. They said the party was focusing on family connections in its candidate selection. The party is preparing a mix of first and second-line leaders to ensure stability and continuity in its political strategy.
The sources said that SP was signaling its intent to field relatives of current MPs for several seats. Ajit Prasad, son of Milkipur MP Awadhesh Prasad, and Chhaya Verma, daughter of Ambedkar Nagar MP Lalji Verma, are among those expected to be given the green light.
Former MP Tej Pratap Singh Yadav is likely to be the party’s candidate from Karhal, while a family member of Irfan Solanki is expected to contest from Sisamau in Kanpur. Additionally, former MLA Haji Rizwan and former MP Qadir Rana are potential candidates for Kundarki (Moradabad) and Meerapur (Bijnor) respectively. Negotiations are continuing for the remaining four seats, with two possibly being allocated to Congress which is in the INDIA bloc.
The list of candidates suggests that the SP is strategically positioning second-generation leaders to take the helm in districts where first-generation members have moved to national roles. To strengthen its position, the SP is conducting surveys and research across these constituencies. The party aims to finalise its candidates before the official announcement of the by-elections schedule.
A senior SP leader said the party was preparing for a close contest between the INDIA block and BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, adding to the significance of the by-elections.
Following a strong showing in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the SP is eager to demonstrate its performance in this upcoming political test. The success of the new generation of leaders will be crucial for the party’s future.
