Speculation over Samajwadi Party withdrawing its candidate Anita Saini from the Haridwar parliamentary constituency is over as SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has given final clearance to her candidature from Haridwar lok Sabha seat.
Meanwhile, amid reports of dissatisfaction among party workers over Saini’s candidature and to choose a candidate acceptable to party leaders, party State president Satyanarayan Sachan called a meeting in Haridwar to discuss names of probable candidates including Durgesh Pratap, Naveen and Aadil, nephew of Azmal Shahnawaz who was earlier fielded from Haridwar lok Sabha seat. Social equations in the constituency were also discussed in detail.
Party sources said that SP workers were against Saini’s candidature because she and her husband were active members of BJP for more than 10 years and because her name was reportedly declared without consulting party leaders and workers.
According to them, a party member who has been working selflessly for the party should be fielded from Haridwar. If sources are to be believed former State president of SP, Vinod Barthwal was also opposing Saini’s candidature.
SP State in charge Aslam Khan had recently also commented on Saini’s candidature and suggested that a party worker from the Muslim community should be fielded from Haridwar considering the substantial Muslim population in the district.
Sachan said that after discussing names of probable candidates the party chief had again approved Saini’s candidature and later party members in one-voice unanimously approved her candidature.He claimed that all the party leaders and workers had pledged to work together in support of Saini.Her name was approved by party chief considering the 2.5 lakh members of Saini community living in Haridwar district and as she has been active in Haridwar holding various positions in the BJP for the last many years.
The party has already declared Avtar Singh as its candidate from Nainital and Bhagwati Prasad Trikot from Almora, he added.