Most of the young leaders contesting this time are well connected to big names but it will not be a cakewalk for them either. The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) has decided to launch three more family members into politics, which includes Mulayam SinghYadav’s daughter-in-law and Prateek Yadav’s wife Aparna Yadav, Anurag Yadav, who is a brother of Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav, and Rahul Yadav, who is a son-in-law of lalu Prasad.
Aparna is up against seasoned politician and sitting MlA Rita Bahuguna Joshi from lucknow Cantonment. In 2012, Rita Joshi defeated BJP’s candidate Suresh Tiwari. Aparna has chosen a tough seat to start her political career and she has taken it as a challenge.
Much before the election bugle was blown, she had started meeting people and attending various religious functions in the constituency.
Anurag Yadav, contesting from Sarojinagar Nagar seat on Samwajwadi Party’s ticket in lucknow district, also finds himself locked in a three-way contest. He replaced Sharda Pratap Shukla, a sitting Samajwadi Party MlA and a Minister in Akhilesh Yadav’s Government. A close aide of Shivpal Singh Yadav, Shukla was denied ticket by Akhilesh and he is now contesting on Rashtriya lok Dal’s ticket, making it difficult for Anurag.
The BJP has fielded Swati Singh, BJP’s State Women’s wing chief and wife of Dayashankar Singh. Swati shot to limelight when she took on Mayawati after BSP chief’s comments about her daughter.
However, it was a bit easy equation for Rahul Yadav, who is contesting from Sikandrabad in Bulandshahr district. He is in direct fight with BSP candidate Mohd Imran, the only Muslim candidate in fray and with 40 per cent Muslims voters in the constituency, Rahul’s primary objective is to woo Muslims voters.
Other names in the fray are Pankaj Singh from Noida, Sandeep Singh from Atrauli.
Son of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Pankaj Singh, is contesting from Noida while 25-year-old Sandeep Singh, grandson of former Chief Minister of UP Kalyan Singh, is set to make his political debut from Atrauli seat, where his grandfather won in 1967 as a Jan Sangh candidate.
Azam Khan’s engineer son Mohammad Abdulla is contesting from Suar Tanda seat. In the previous Assembly election Nawab Kazim Ali Khan of Congress won the seat and with SP-Congress alliance in place, his chances are quite bright.
Meanwhile, Abbas Ansari will vie from Ghosi seat in Mau district, from where his father is in fray.
BSP supremo Mayawati’s trusted lieutenant Naseemuddin Siddiqui’s son Afzal Siddiqui is not contesting but has been given the major responsibility to garner Muslims votes in the six districts of UP west.
Swami Prasad Maurya, who joined the BJP in September, managed to get ticket for his son. His son Utkarsh Maurya will try his luck from Unchahaar seat in Raebareli district.