Opposition parties got a shot in their arm on Thursday, when Independent candidate Kunwar Hasan announced his withdrawal from Kairana by-polls in favour of the RlD candidate Begum Tabassum saying that he was doing it for opposition unity.
Hasan made the announcement on a day when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was addressing a poll rally at Shamli.
“I am withdrawing in the favour of Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD) candidate Begum Tabassum, who is the opposition candidate and enjoying support of Congress, BSP and Samajwadi Party. I would also join the Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD),” Hasan declared.
The announcement was made in the presence of RlD general secretary Jayant Chaudhary after a meeting with the Hasan family members in Shamli.
The bypoll at Kairana lok Sabha seat is slated to be held on May 28 and the result will be declared on May 31.
The decision seems to be a big political decision as Kunwar Hasan is the brother-in-law of RlD candidate Begum Tabassum and could have dented the vote bank, particularly of Muslims, as he enjoyed good support.
begum Tabassum is a former MP and had won this seat on a BSP ticket in 2009.
Kunwar was the BSP candidate in 2014 lok Sabha polls and came third with 1,60,414 votes. BJP’s Hukum Singh won with 5,15,909 votes while Samajwadi Party’s Nahid Hasan with 3,29,081 votes came second. Nahid is also cousin of Kunwar Hasan.
Hasan’s move could be fatal for the BJP as it would prevent division of opposition votes and the fight would be reduced to a direct contest between the BJP and the RlD.