The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
SP yet to take a call on Badaun, Shivpal ‘declares’ son candidate
FOR THE Samajwadi Party (SP), the election season so far has been full of curveballs. While the party has settled the confusion over its candidate in Moradabad, the situation is far from being clear in Badaun. Though Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Yadav is officially in the fray from the constituency, he has declared his son Aditya as the candidate.
“I have come to make an appeal. The election is going to take place on may 7 here, which is very significant. in this election, do you know who has been made the candidate now?” Shivpal asked while campaigning on Sunday as the crowd responded, “Aditya Yadav.” The veteran leader then said the nomination papers would be filed during Navaratri, which begins on April 9.
Last week, an sp workers’ conferenceheld ins a mb hal proposed that Aditya be the candidate from Badaun. Shivpal, whose relations with Akhilesh Yadav are far from smooth, then said the proposal would be sent to the national leadership. Meanwhile, as they await the decision, both Shivpal and Aditya are campaigning for each other in the constituency.
Badaun used to be an SP stronghold but fell to the BJP in 2019. First won by the party in 1996, Ad it ya and akhil es h’ s cousin Dharmendra Yadav entered Parliament from the seat in 2009. He was 30 years old at the time. Dharmendra retained the constituency five years later amid the pro-narendra Modi wave across India but lost to Samghmitra Maurya in 2019. This time, too, Dharmendra was declared the candidate from Badaun but was subsequently replaced by sh iv pal and moved to Azamgarh, Akhil es h’ s former seat that he had failed to win in a bypoll in 2022.
SP insiders suggested with Aditya as the candidate it would be easier for Dharmendra to mobilise his supporters. Last week, D harm end ra too said ,“job hi party ka faisla hoga aur khushi hogi … Chacha ke liye kaam karne mein ek hichak hoti, Aditya ke liye aur jyada kaam karenge (I will be happy with whatever the party decides. There would have been some hesitation in working for my uncle, I can work more for Aditya).”
Aditya too concurs. “There is a history of success led by Dharmendra bhaiya when Badaun supported a young face like him and sent him to Parliament. When my father is around, there is always a protocol as he is senior but it will be easier for him (Dharmendra) to take me around as a young face. That is why everyone is pitching for my name,” he told The Indian Express.
Asked if he felt ready to take on the challenge, Aditya said, “Certainly. if eel th a ti am ready because apart from my cooperative sector experience, I have been working on the ground in election management for the past three years in Jaswant Nagar for Netaji. I worked in poll management for Dimple bhabhi (Akhilesh’s wife) in by polls as well. however, till any official announcement is made, Shivpal ji is the official candidate an di am seeking support for him .”