The Samajwadi party replaced its candidate Rajesh Kashyap with Jyotsana Gond from Shahjahanpur. This is SP's 10th such change on 62 seats it is contesting to date.
According to a senior election official, Rajesh Kashyap had filed his nomination from the Samajwadi party on April 22. However, Gond had filed her nomination from the party on April 24 because of which Kashyap’s nomination was rejected after scrutiny on Friday.
SP president Akhilesh Yadav himself replaced his nephew Tej Pratap Yadav as the candidate from Kannauj, which is considered a stronghold of the party, on Thursday.
Sp was heavily criticised by the opposition parties calling it a confused party' amid the move.
SP has changed its candidates from Meerut, Baghpat, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Badaun, Misrikh, Bijnor, Sultanpur, Muradabad, Kannauj and Shahjhanpur.
Indian Express quoting party sources said the party had picked many leaders to contest the election based on caste equation. However, not all the leaders were backed by the SP leadership in the district units. " Many leaders have joined the party in the last few years and when they party announces them as candidates, the local leadership of the party opposes such candidates and the party president is forced to change the nominees.
While speaking on the changing the candidate from Shahjhanpur Samajwadi Party district unit President Tanveer Khan told PTI that “whatever decision the party's national president takes is welcomed. If there is any difference of opinion in anyone's mind after the nomination is canceled, it will be resolved.” "We are in a better position in the election in Shahjahanpur and the official candidate of the Samajwadi Party is Jyotsna Gond," he said.