BJP announces candidates for UP Lok Sabha seats

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unveiled two additional candidates for Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, the political future of Brij Bhushan Saran Singh remains uncertain with no clarity on the Kaiserganj constituency, where he currently serves as the incumbent MP.

In the recent announcements, Vishwadeep Singh has been designated as the candidate for Firozabad, while Shashank Mani Tripathi has been chosen to represent the party in Deoria. Notably, this decision involves the removal of sitting MPs Chandrasen Singh Jadaun from Firozabad and Ramapati Ram Tripathi from Deoria from the party's ticket list.

Sources close to the developments suggest that Vishwadeep Singh's selection for Firozabad aligns with strategic considerations, particularly in addressing the concerns of the Thakur community in Western Uttar Pradesh. Singh's candidacy is seen as a potential move to assuage the dissatisfaction among Rajputs, particularly regarding the ticket distribution, notably with General V K Singh. With roots in an area renowned for its abundance of educational institutions, Singh emerges as a candidate likely to resonate with local sentiments. On the other hand, Shashank Mani Tripathi, the grandson of former MP Prakashmani, brings a legacy that strengthens the BJP's electoral narrative in Deoria.

With these recent announcements, the BJP has left only two seats in Uttar Pradesh awaiting candidate nominations: Kaiserganj and Rae Bareli. The BJP has now declared candidates for 73 out of the total 75 seats it is contesting in Uttar Pradesh, with the remaining five seats allocated to its allies. Notably, the party has denied tickets to 20 sitting MPs thus far. Among the announced candidates, 31 are from the general category, 24 hail from OBC backgrounds, and 18 come from SC/ST communities.

However, the party has yet to unveil its contenders for Kaiserganj and Rae Bareli, leaving the future of Brij Bhushan Saran Singh uncertain as speculation mounts over his candidacy.